Mofokeng shines in Belgium as Mokwena soars and Mngqithi falls in Africa

Home » International Football News » Mofokeng shines in Belgium as Mokwena soars and Mngqithi falls in Africa

October 26, 2026 7:37 am Relebohile Mofokeng celebrating with his teammates. Picture by Union SG

Relebohile Mofokeng was the best-performing Mzansi star abroad over the weekend, while South African coaches endured mixed fortunes, with Manqoba Mngqithi being sacked in Tanzania.

In Belgium, Mofokeng continued his fine European form as Union Saint-Gilloise thrashed Cercle Brugge 5-2 at the Jan Breydel Stadium on Sunday. The former Orlando Pirates star headed home superbly from a cross in the 80th minute before turning provider for the final goal in the convincing win.

The goal takes Mofokeng to five goals and four assists in 14 games in all competitions this season. Union sit third after nine league games, with the attacker becoming increasingly influential.

In the United States, Bafana Bafana stars Bongokuhle Hlongwane and Lyle Foster faced off as Minnesota United held Houston Dynamo to a 0-0 draw at Shell Energy Stadium on Sunday. Hlongwane played the full match for Minnesota, while Houston withdrew Foster after 59 minutes.

On the African continent, it was a tale of contrasting fortunes for two South African coaches. In Egypt, Rulani Mokwena extended his perfect start at Pyramids FC to 12 successive wins and booked a place in the CAF Champions League group stage.

Pyramids hammered South Sudan’s El Merriekh Bentiu 4-0 at the 30 June Air Defence Stadium on Saturday to complete a 5-0 aggregate win, with Abdelrahman Magdy scoring a first-half brace, Mostafa Fathi adding a third before the break, and Nadhir Benbouali sealing the win in the 71st minute.

In Tanzania, Manqoba Mngqithi was sacked on Saturday by Young Africans despite guiding the club into the same group stage. of the Champions League. The former Golden Arrows coach was dismissed immediately after Saturday’s 0-0 league draw at TRA United in Arusha, which left Yanga five points behind rivals Simba SC.

Mngqithi enjoyed a dominant start, surrendering just one defeat in 13 matches. His impressive run yielded the Community Shield against Simba, six straight league victories, and a flawless CAF Champions League preliminary campaign highlighted by an 8-1 aggregate demolition of Madagascar’s Elgeco Plus.

But a 2-1 derby loss to Steve Barker’s Simba on October 10 and the weekend draw proved decisive for the Dar es Salaam giants, who went through three coaches last season alone.

Additionally, attacker Keletso Makgalwa was on target again as Steve Barker’s Simba SC thrashed Equatorial Guinea’s 15 de Agosto 3-0 at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on Sunday to seal an emphatic 9-1 aggregate win and book their place in the CAF Champions League group stages.

Former PSL star Anicet Oura opened the scoring in the 57th minute, Elie Mpanzu doubled the lead in the 69th, before Makgalwa sealed the rout in the 78th. He has now scored three goals and provided an assist since joining Simba.

Barker’s men also top the Tanzanian Premier League with a perfect 24 points from eight wins, with fellow South Africans Rushine De Reuck playing the full 90 minutes and Neo Maema featuring off the bench against 15 de Agosto.

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