Pitso Mosimane has challenged Rangers defender Olwethu Makhanya to fight his way into the South Africa starting lineup. The Bafana Bafana head coach says the 22-year-old must prove he can displace more established players to secure a role ahead of key Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Mosimane emphasized that competition for places is fierce, and Makhanya's club form must translate into a compelling case for selection when reviewing the full national team squad.
Mosimane pointed to Makhanya's recent experience in the Glasgow derby as evidence of his readiness for high-pressure international football. "If you understand, if you follow football properly, you don’t play the Glasgow Derby if you don’t have the mental capacity, even when we talk about talent, right?" the coach told Sportswire. He also noted the defender's disallowed goal in that match, calling it unfortunate. The coach's comments come as he assesses his defensive options, with detailed player stats from both club and country being a key part of his evaluation process.
Makhanya joined Rangers from Philadelphia Union in July for a fee of 3.5 million euros and has quickly become a regular, featuring in six Scottish Premiership games and several cup fixtures. His only senior cap came in a friendly against Nicaragua last May, and he was an unused substitute throughout South Africa's run to the 2026 World Cup round of 32, where they were eliminated by Canada. Despite his limited international minutes, his performances in Scotland have been closely monitored by the technical team.
South Africa's next competitive action is an away qualifier against Eritrea on 30 September. The team currently sits second in their World Cup qualifying group with four points from three matches, a position they will look to strengthen during the upcoming international window. Fans can track the team's progress and upcoming matches on the official fixtures page.
Makhanya, who won the Nedbank Cup Most Promising Player award in 2023, regularly partners Emmanuel Fernandez in the Rangers defence. His club form, including being part of a back line that kept two consecutive clean sheets against Celtic, has put him firmly in the national team picture. The challenge from Mosimane comes as South Africa prepare for a double-header of qualifiers against Guinea and Eritrea, with the coach seeking to build on a recent run of form that reads one win, two draws and two losses from their last five outings. The team's broader campaign objectives are reflected in the current CAF standings for both World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations qualification.
Background and full detail: roundtable.io
Pitso Mosimane has named Olwethu Makhanya in his starting lineup for South Africa's Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Eritrea on 30 September. The Rangers defender will start in a back four, according to the team's official match data. This marks Makhanya's first competitive start for Bafana Bafana. The team, which sits second in World Cup qualifying with four points from three games, will look to improve on recent form of one win, two draws and two losses from their last five outings.
