Sipho Mbule Told He Has Chance to Break Into Bafana's AFCON Squad After Joining Pirates

• Junior Khanye predicts Sipho Mbule will break into Bafana Bafana squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after joining Orlando Pirates
• Mbule joins the Buccaneers following a loan spell at Sekhukhune United and an end to his contract with Mamelodi Sundowns
• The South African international chooses the Buccaneers over their city rivals Kaizer Chiefs this summer

Former Premier Soccer League winger Junior Khanye has tipped Sipho Mbule to break into Hugo Broos' Bafana Bafana squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after securing a move to Orlando Pirates this summer.

The former Mamelodi Sundowns spent last season on loan at Sekhukhune United and was linked with several clubs in the PSL after his contract ended with the Brazilians.

The South African international opted to join the Buccaneers despite being linked with their rivals Kaizer Chiefs this summer.

Khanye speaks on Mbule's chance after moving to Pirates

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According to iDiskiTimes, Khanye considers Mbule's move to Pirates as the last chance for the player to showcase his football talent in the Betway Premiership.

The former Kaizer Chiefs forward also believes the ex-SuperSport United midfielder can return to the national team if he gets his act together and impress on the pitch with his performance.

“To be honest, I’m surprised, he’s very fortunate,” Khanye said on iDiski TV.

“But he needs to understand something clearly: this is his final opportunity. We've seen other players at the club who faced similar issues, and the club didn’t hesitate to let them go.

“Even when fans adored them, they were released — and that was the end of their careers. If you leave Orlando Pirates under those circumstances, your career is essentially finished.

“Mbule is extremely fortunate. He owes thanks to his ancestors, to God, and to the fact that youth is still on his side. He has to realise that if things go wrong for him at Pirates, he may not get another chance.

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“His natural ability is something special. He’s one of the most talented players we have, and I’m excited to watch him combine with Patrick Maswanganyi, Relebohile Mofokeng, Mohau Nkota, and Tshegofatso Mabasa.

“This is his make-or-break moment. If he commits to training and earns regular minutes, he could even find himself on that AFCON squad, but only if he gets his act together.”

Mbule is one of the best midfielders in the Betway Premiership but his attitude during his short spell with Sekhukhune United led to club management deciding not to make his loan move permanent at the end of the season.

Khanye blasts Kaizer Chiefs for signing Chilsett

Briefly News also reported that Junior Khanye slammed his former club Kaizer Chiefs for signing European-based midfielder Ethan Chilsett instead of going for a South African international who is also a free agent.

Chilsett also had the chance to join either Mamelodi Sundowns or Orlando Pirates this summer but opted for a move to Amakhosi as he returns to South Africa.

Source: Briefly News