Bafana Bafana winger Mohau Nkota has successfully undergone knee surgery following the injury that ruled him out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
His club, Al-Ettifaq, confirmed on Thursday that the procedure was successfully completed on Wednesday.
“Mohau Nkota underwent successful knee surgery yesterday,” the club said in a statement.
“The club’s family wishes the player a speedy recovery, complete wellness, and a quick return to the field to continue his journey with the team.”
Nkota miss out on Bafana World Cup squad selection
Nkota joined Al-Ettifaq from Orlando Pirates before the start of the season in a deal reportedly worth around R50 million.
The 21-year-old enjoyed a promising start to life in Saudi Arabia but later struggled for form and was temporarily dropped from the team. He fought his way back into contention towards the end of the campaign before suffering the knee injury that ultimately required surgery.
Despite the setback, Nkota featured in 22 matches across all competitions, scoring two goals and providing three assists.
The former Pirates star lost his father in March and was back in South Africa for a month, missing several matches for his club. His Bafana World Cup spot was in jeopardy then, but injury ruled him out of the tournament.
Earlier this year, reports emerged suggesting that Al-Ettifaq could be open to selling the South African international, although his immediate focus will now be on recovering from surgery and returning to full fitness.
