South Africans Abroad: Mbokazi ruled out for the rest of 2026

Bafana Bafana and Chicago Fire centre-back Mbekezeli Mbokazi has been ruled out for the rest of 2026 due to injury.

Mbokazi suffered a thigh injury, and according to his manager Gregg Berhalter, the burly defender requires surgery.

In his absence, Chicago Fire beat Necaxa 2-0 in Leagues Cup 2026, thanks to goals from two defenders Jonathan Dean and Andrew Gutman.

Now, Mbokazi being ruled out for the rest of the year is a blow not only for Chicago Fire but for Bafana Bafana as well.

Bafana Bafana will return to action in September and October for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

This means Mbokazi will miss no fewer than four AFCON qualifiers for Bafana Bafana as the third and fourth matches will be played in November.

The 20-year-old is likely to return to action for Bafana Bafana for matchdays 5 and 6 in March 2027.

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“Mbo being out for the year is a tough one,” Berhalter told Apple TV as per MLS Soccer.

“It’s really about the next person stepping up and being a team that’s hard to score on. Closing the spaces, being compact.

“We’re working on that now, and I think today you’re going to see that.”

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Meanwhile, the news of Mbokazi’s serious injury comes at a time when there is huge interest in his services.

As reported on The South African, Mbokazi could be lost to Chicago Fire as teams from Europe’s top five leagues continue to inquire about him.

This follows his solid performances for the national team at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.