Mbekezeli Mbokazi

Mbekezeli Mbokazi
Personal information
Full name Mbekezeli Mfanufikile Mbokazi
Date of birth (2005-09-19) 19 September 2005
Place of birth Hluhluwe, South Africa
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position Defender
Team information
Current team
 Chicago Fire
Number 4
Youth career
Makhasa F.C.
–2023 Langalibalele Academy
2024 Orlando Pirates DDC
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2025 Orlando Pirates 23 (2)
2026– Chicago Fire 12 (0)
International career‡
2024–2025 South Africa U20 5 (1)
2025– South Africa 14 (1)
Medal record
Representing  South Africa
COSAFA U-20 Cup
Gold medal – first place2024 Mozambique
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 11 June 2026
‡ National team caps and goals as of 29 June 2026

Mbekezeli Mfanufikile Mbokazi (born 19 September 2005), is a South African professional soccer player who plays as a center-back for Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire and the South Africa national team.

Club career

Orlando Pirates

He captained the Pirates DDC team in the PSL Reserve in 2024.[1] Mbokazi made his Orlando Pirates senior debut on 5 March 2025 in a 1–0 win over Chippa United.[2] He won his first man of the match award with Pirates against Mamelodi Sundowns with him credited for a great defensive showing on 16 March 2025.[3]

He captained the team in a pre-season friendly against Pafos F.C. from Spain at just 19 years-old and become the youngest captain for the Buccaneers after Mbulelo Mabizela at 21 years-old in the 2002/03 season.[4] He was made vice-captain in the 2025/26 season.[5]

Mbokazi made his continental debut in the 2025–26 CAF Champions League when he captained the side in a 3–0 win against Lioli from Lesotho. In the 2025 Carling Knockout Cup, he scored the winner in the round of 16 match against Siwelele to send the club into the quarterfinals.[6] He later won the October 2025 goal of month for his strike.[7] He ended his stay at Pirates by captaining the club in their 2025 Carling Knockout Cup win against Marumo Gallants in the final at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on 6 December 2025 and won his second trophy with the club after their 2025 MTN 8 triumph earlier in the season.[8][9]

He was nominated for the young player of the year award at the 2025 CAF awards.[10] He won the 2025 Carling Knockout Cup player of the tournament after captaining the bucaneers to the Carling title.[11]

Chicago Fire

In December 2025, he was signed to Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire FC with the deal running until 2029 with a club option for the 2029-30 season.[12][13] He was included in the 2026 MLS All-Star Game but was ruled out with a thigh injury.[14][15]

International career

Mbokazi was selected for 2024 COSAFA U-20 Cup with the South Africa national under-20 soccer team that won the tournament and qualified for the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.[16][17] He played all matches in the tournament and scored the fifth goal in a 5-0 win over Malawi.[18]

In May 2025, Mbokazi got his first senior international call-up for the two friendly games against Tanzania and Mozambique, where he ultimately made his debut in a 2–0 win against Mozambique.[19] He was called up again for the World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Nigeria in September 2025. He played both games and ultimately had a man of the match performance in the 1-all draw against Nigeria.[20]

On 1 December 2025, Mbokazi was called up to the South Africa squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.[21] He scored his maiden international goal in a 2–1 loss to Panama on 31 March 2026.[22] He was also included in South Africa's preliminary squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and was ultimately included in the final 23 man squad.[23] He played in the starting line-up of all four of South Africa's 2026 FIFA World Cup games.[24]

International goals

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.31 March 2026Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa Panama1–11–2Friendly

Honours

South Africa

Orlando Pirates

Individual

References

  1. ↑ Sithole, Sinethemba (2025-03-20). "How Chiefs and 3 other PSL clubs rejected Mbokazi". FARPost. Retrieved 2025-03-22.
  2. ↑ "Pirates' new 'Mbazo' shines on debut". Kickoff. Retrieved 2025-03-22.
  3. ↑ Kohler, Lorenz (2025-03-17). "Mbokazi - We Knew They Were Not Going To Come Out Alive". iDiski Times. Retrieved 2025-03-22.
  4. ↑ Munyai, Ofhani (2025-09-04). "Lekgwathi compares Mbokazi to legend 'Old John' Mabizela". FARPost. Retrieved 2025-12-06.
  5. ↑ Biyela, Lunga (2025-07-30). "Orlando Pirates hand captaincy to Nkosinathi Sibisi, teenage star Mbekezeli Mbokazi named vice-captain". IOL. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
  6. ↑ "'Orlando Pirates' Mbokazi scored Goal of Century that left Siwelele keeper with Trauma! Evidence Makgopa is inspired by Khanyisa Mayo; but Mbekezeli playing for Amajita is disrespectful' - Fans | Goal.com South Africa". Goal. 2025-10-04. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
  7. ↑ Phenyo, Selinda (2025-11-12). "Mbekezeli Mbokazi Wins Orlando Pirates Goal of the Month for October 2025 with Stunning Strike Against Siwelele FC | Central News South Africa". Retrieved 2025-12-02.
  8. ↑ "Pirates coach Ouaddou gives Mbokazi the captain's armband in his final match for the club". TimesLIVE. 2025-12-06. Retrieved 2025-12-06.
  9. ↑ Mahlase, Eliot (2025-12-06). "WATCH: Emotional scenes as Pirates fans say goodbye to Mbokazi". The South African. Retrieved 2025-12-06.
  10. ↑ Madyira, Michael (2025-10-22). "Mbokazi and Bafana earn CAF nomination as Broos misses out". FARPost. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
  11. 1 2 Sewsunker, Akheel (2026-07-28). "Pirates dominate PSL Awards as Mofokeng claims top prize". The Witness. Retrieved 2026-07-28.
  12. ↑ Calabrese, Alex (2025-12-02). "Chicago Fire sign Mbekezeli Mbokazi from Orlando Pirates - MIR97 Media". Retrieved 2025-12-02.
  13. ↑ "Chicago Fire acquire South African defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
  14. ↑ "Chicago Fire coach Gregg Berhalter confirms Mbekezeli Mbokazi will be out injured 'for a while'". ESPN. Retrieved 2026-07-28.
  15. ↑ Calabrese, Alex (22 August 2026). "Berhalter: Mbokazi Could Still Return in 2026". Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  16. ↑ Mphelo, Namhla (2024-09-17). "Mdaka names 20 men squad ahead of U20 AFCON qualifiers - SAFA.net". Retrieved 2025-03-22.
  17. ↑ Raophala, Mauwane (2024-10-05). "Raymond Mdaka guides Amajita to COSAFA Championship glory". FARPost. Retrieved 2025-03-22.
  18. ↑ "Raymond Mdaka's great admiration for Mbekezeli Mbokazi's talent | soccer". SABC. 2025-03-22. Retrieved 2025-03-22.
  19. ↑ "Hugo Broos hands Orlando Pirates' Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Mohau Nkota & Simphiwe Selepe maiden Bafana Bafana call-ups for Tanzania and Mozambique matches, while Kaizer Chiefs players are snubbed - AGAIN | Goal.com South Africa". Goal. 2025-05-29. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
  20. ↑ Mphahlele, Mahlatse (10 September 2025). "Broos calls for Bafana's sensational Mbokazi to move to Europe". TimesLive. Retrieved 10 September 2025.
  21. ↑ "TotalEnergies AFCON Morocco 2025 fever rises as Broos become first coach to unveil final squad". Confederation of African Football. 1 December 2025. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  22. ↑ Gwegwe, Siseko (2026-03-31). "Mbokazi screamer not enough as Bafana fall to Panama". The South African. Retrieved 2026-04-01.
  23. ↑ Ntloko, Mninawa (2026-03-09). "Broos announces preliminary Bafana squad for International Friendly Matches against Panama". South African Football Association. Retrieved 2026-05-06.
  24. ↑ "Mbekezeli Mbokazi helps South Africa earn dramatic World Cup comeback | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer. Retrieved 2026-07-28.
This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.