Mailula relishing Mosimane reunion after return to Bafana Bafana squad

Cassius Mailula says his difficult spell abroad has strengthened his determination to succeed after earning a recall to the South Africa squad under new coach Pitso Mosimane.

The 25-year-old forward has returned to Mamelodi Sundowns and used the opportunities provided by coach Miguel Cardoso to rediscover the form that marked his breakthrough 2022-23 campaign.

That season, Mailula attracted interest from overseas after scoring 15 goals in 34 appearances during his first senior campaign with Sundowns. However, his progress stalled during three challenging years in Major League Soccer (MLS), Morocco and Belgium.

Mailula now sees his return to South Africa as an opportunity to rebuild both his club and international career. His first matches back with Bafana Bafana could come against Guinea at Orlando Stadium on Saturday in a 2027 Africa Cup of Nations Group D qualifier, before a meeting with Eritrea in Cairo on Wednesday.

The reunion with Mosimane has added significance. As Sundowns coach in 2017, Mosimane included a 16-year-old Mailula in his pre-season squad after identifying his potential. Mailula eventually made his senior breakthrough five years later, with his performances also earning recognition from then-South Africa coach Hugo Broos.

“It’s always different when you leave here to go and play overseas. The level is not the same it demands a lot from you,” Mailula said.

“And I think I’ve learnt a lot how it feels to play and also to not play. It also make you hungry.

“You can just see now, coming back home, that I’m more hungry to play. I want to win every match I play and also help my team win games.

“So yeah man, I’ve learnt a lot. And it [coming home and finding form] also gave me a chance to be back in the national team.”

Broos had questioned Mailula’s move to Toronto FC, a club that already had international-quality attacking options, following the striker’s impressive season at Sundowns.

Mailula scored twice in eight matches for the Canadian MLS side. He then scored six goals in 36 appearances while on loan from Toronto at Wydad Casablanca.

His next loan move, to KV Kortrijk, brought limited playing time. Mailula made only three appearances as the Belgian club secured promotion to the top flight after finishing as Challenger Pro League runners-up in 2025-26.

Despite his time away from the national team, Mailula says he never doubted his ability to return.

“I’ve always believed I belong to the national team because of the quality I have,” he said.

“Even with the previous coach, I was called up. Unfortunately things didn’t work out the way I wanted because I was not playing at my club.”

Mailula said regular football for Sundowns restored his confidence, while seeing his name on the final Bafana list brought particular satisfaction.

“When I saw the [Bafana final] list, I was in camp [for Sundowns]. It made me so happy, especially with the fact that the coach knows me, he saw me when I was 16 years old.”

Mosimane, who has selected a squad featuring considerable talent and potential, has put Bafana Bafana through their preparations at the University of Johannesburg’s sports fields this week.