South African soccer stars prepare for UEFA league phases

by Staff Bona

Local players will compete across Europe’s three leading club tournaments during the 2026-27 season.

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South African football will have representation in the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League during the 2026-27 campaign.

Mzansi soccer stars to look out for

SoccerBeat highlighted Aden McCarthy, Manasse Kianga, Relebohile Mofokeng, Gift Links and Thapelo Maseko among the players preparing to compete on the European stage.

Former Kaizer Chiefs defender McCarthy will represent Azerbaijani club Sabah in the Champions League. They will face Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund and Napoli at home, while their away schedule includes Arsenal and Manchester United.

Manasse Kianga is the other South African in the competition, having helped Slovan Bratislava reach the league phase. The 24-year-old forward scored once in three qualifying appearances and will have the opportunity to face Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan, Roma and Stuttgart.

Mofokeng will compete in the Europa League with Union Saint-Gilloise after joining the Belgian club from Orlando Pirates in July. Union dropped into the competition after being eliminated by Bodø/Glimt in the Champions League qualifiers and will meet Real Sociedad, Lyon, Celtic and Besiktas.

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Another Mzansi representative

The country’s Europa League representation also includes Bafana Bafana international Mihlali Mayambela. His Omonia side will begin the league phase at home against Celta Vigo on 16 September.

Links and Maseko will represent Danish clubs in the Conference League. Links’ AGF dropped into the tournament after losing 6-2 on aggregate to Benfica in the Europa League play-offs, while Copenhagen qualified by beating Inter Turku 4-1 in their second leg.

Maseko joined Copenhagen from Mamelodi Sundowns on a four-year contract in August and made his European debut against Inter Turku. His new side will face Braga, Crvena Zvezda, Lugano, Universitatea Craiova, Inter Escaldes and Iberia Tbilisi

Originally published by Soccermag.

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