‘I belong’: Mailula makes Bafana Bafana comeback statement

Cassius Mailula, a striker for Mamelodi Sundowns, has expressed his joy at being called back into the South African national team, Bafana Bafana. The 25-year-old has returned from a challenging period abroad, where his performances for Sundowns earned him a place in head coach Pitso Mosimane's squad for upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Mailula, who has netted four goals in 11 appearances for Sundowns this season, is particularly pleased to be reunited with Mosimane, who was his first coach at Sundowns when he was just 16 years old. "It is always a dream and honour to be part of the national team," he said. "I am very grateful and honoured and happy to be back."

Earlier, Mailula's last appearance for Bafana was in March 2023, when he played in two Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Liberia under former head coach Hugo Broos. However, his move to Toronto FC later that year limited his opportunities, making a consistent return to the national team difficult. Despite this, Mailula maintains his belief in his ability to represent South Africa.

"I always believed that I belong in the national team," he stated. "Even with the previous coach (Broos) I was called up. Things didn’t work out the way I wanted because I was not playing at my club."

Mailula's return to the national team is a testament to his talent and work ethic. Bafana head coach Mosimane has praised Mailula's ability to break into a star-studded Sundowns squad and has indicated that he will be given a chance to prove himself on the international stage. Bafana Bafana's qualifying campaign for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations begins with matches against Guinea and Eritrea, followed by a friendly in Cairo against Egypt.