Mofokeng’s Champions League hopes ended as Royale lose thriller to Bodø/Glimt

Relebohile Mofokeng will not feature in the UEFA Champions League league phase during his first season with Royale Union Saint-Gilloise after the Belgian side were eliminated by Bodø/Glimt in a dramatic qualifying tie.

Bodø/Glimt won the second leg 3-2 after extra time at Aspmyra Stadion in Bodø, Norway, going through 6-5 on aggregate. The decisive goal came in the 117th minute, when Andreas Helmersen struck late in extra time.

The result came only days after Mofokeng scored his first goal for Royale in his Jupiler Pro League debut. The 21-year-old came off the bench in the 60th minute of Saturday’s 5-1 away victory over KVC Westerlo, collecting a through-ball inside the penalty area before finishing low beyond goalkeeper Andreas Jungdal.

Royale had begun their Champions League tie with a thrilling 3-3 draw in the first leg at Albertparkstadion in Oostende on 4 August. Mofokeng was an unused substitute on that occasion.

He was introduced in the 91st minute of Tuesday’s return fixture, which finished 2-2 after normal time, and remained on the pitch for extra time. Royale were reduced to nine players after receiving two red cards before Bodø/Glimt settled the contest in the closing stages.

The Norwegian club will now enter the play-off round, where they will face NEC Nijmegen of the Netherlands for a place in the Champions League league phase.

Bodø/Glimt produced an extraordinary run in last season’s Champions League, reaching the last 16 despite the odds before losing 5-3 on aggregate to Sporting. Their campaign included league-phase victories over Atletico Madrid and Manchester City, followed by a shock win against Inter Milan in the first knockout round play-off.

Mofokeng joined Royale last month from Orlando Pirates. He had played an important part in Orlando Pirates’ 2025-26 Betway Premiership title campaign and moved to Belgium after impressing for Bafana Bafana at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America in June.

The South African has already collected a trophy with his new club. Royale, champions of the 2024-25 Jupiler Pro League season and runners-up in 2025-26, defeated Club Brugge on penalties in the Belgian Super Cup on 31 July.

Mofokeng was brought on in the 61st minute of that match, giving him an early taste of success with Royale before the disappointment of their Champions League exit.