South Africa winger Mohau Nkota confident of playing at the World Cup before retirement

South African winger Mohau Nkota has vowed to come back stronger after missing the 2026 FIFA World Cup through injury, while expressing optimism about playing at the global showpiece before calling it a quit.

Nkota was one of the standout performers during Bafana Bafana’s impressive World Cup qualifying campaign and played a key role in helping the team secure their place at the tournament.

However, the talented attacker suffered an untimely injury before the competition, forcing him to miss out on the final squad for the global showpiece.

His absence opened the door for Thapelo Maseko, who was called up as a replacement and went on to make a positive impact as South Africa progressed to the Round of 32 before being eliminated by Canada men’s national soccer team.

Despite the disappointment, the former Orlando Pirates player says he has accepted the setback and is determined to return stronger.

“As a soccer player, you have to pass these stages,” said Nkota. “Injuries are a part of football, unfortunately, they strike mostly at difficult times.

“You just have to be patient and wait for your time. As for me, I’m still young. I’m growing up. There’s still more to come. I’ll be patient and I’ll play another World Cup.”

Nkota’s mature response highlights his determination to overcome adversity and continue his development, with the youngster now focused on regaining full fitness and working his way back into the national team setup.

Having already shown his quality during the qualifying campaign, the promising winger will be hoping to put his injury behind him and establish himself as a key figure for Bafana Bafana in the years ahead.