Bafana Bafana star Percy Tau celebrates 50th international cap

An eMalahleni-born Bafana Bafana player, Percy Tau (30), has earned his 50th appearance in the national team. He marked his golden appearance at the Fifa World Cup 2026 qualifier match against Benin on March 25.

Like any other football player, he has received criticism, but continued to demonstrate his value in the national team since 2015. Tau is only the 36th player in South African football history to achieve this. His first game for Bafana Bafana was against Angola and they lost 2-0.

His first international goal was against Guinea-Bissau in the Africa Cup of Nations Championship (Caf) in March 2017. He scored in the 69th minute after receiving a yellow card two minutes prior. Bafana Bafana won this game 3-1.

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The star football player made his professional debut with Mamelodi Sundowns in 2014. Tau made 100 appearances for this team. He scored his first professional goal in the 90th minute against Golden Arrows in the Nedbank Cup in 2014.

Between 2017 and 2018, Tau score 11 goals contributing to Sundowns’ Absa Premiership victory. He received the South African Champion Award. These achievements attracted the attention of European teams such as Brighton & Hove Albion FC, Union SG, Club Brugge KV and RSC Anderlecht. Tau played for these teams between 2018 and 2021.

In 2021, Tau signed a permanent deal with the African giants, Al Ahly, where he made 126 appearances, scored 30 goals and made 14 assists. He has won two Egyptian Premier League Championships, two Cafs and four Egyptian Super Cups.

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He was named the first South African player to win the Caf Interclub Player of the Year in 2023. In January, Tau joined Qatar SC after three and a half successful seasons with Al Ahly.