Thapelo Maseko is a South African professional soccer player who plays as a winger for Mamelodi Sundowns and the South Africa national team, Bafana Bafana. Born 11 November 2003 in Sebokeng, Gauteng, he is currently 22 years old and stands 1.78 m tall. He has been selected as part of the South Africa 2026 World Cup squad, making him one of the key players to watch in the tournament.
Personal Information
Full Name: Thapelo Maseko
Date of Birth: 11 November 2003
Age: 22 years old
Place of Birth: Sebokeng, Gauteng, South Africa
Height: 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position: Winger
Current Team: Mamelodi Sundowns
Previous Clubs: SuperSport United, AEL Limassol (loan)
Nationality: South African
Preferred Foot: Right
Jersey Number: Varies by competition
Senior Career Summary
SuperSport United: 2021 to 2023, 32 appearances, 4 goals
Mamelodi Sundowns: 2023 to present, 19 appearances, 1 goal
AEL Limassol: 2026 loan, 12 appearances, 1 goal
International Career Summary
South Africa U23: 2023, 2 appearances, 1 goal
South Africa National Team: 2022 to present, 8 appearances, 1 goal
Notable Achievements
African Football League Best Player: 2023
African Football League Top Goal Scorer: 2023
South African Premiership winner: 2023 to 2024, 2024 to 2025
Africa Cup of Nations third place: 2023.
Early Life and Youth Career
Thapelo Maseko was born in Sebokeng, Gauteng, South Africa. He developed his football skills in the youth academy of SuperSport United, where he trained before making his professional debut. His pace, dribbling ability, and goal-scoring instinct from the wing position set him apart from other young players in the South African development system.
Club Career
SuperSport United (2021 to 2023)
Maseko began his professional career at SuperSport United. He made 32 appearances for the club between 2021 and 2023, scoring 4 goals. His breakthrough season came during the 2022 to 2023 campaign, where he helped SuperSport United secure a third-place finish in the South African top league. His performances attracted interest from international clubs, including Belgian side KVC Westerlo.
Mamelodi Sundowns (2023 to Present)
In June 2023, Maseko signed for Mamelodi Sundowns, the record 13-time winners of the South African Premier League. He has made 19 appearances for Sundowns, scoring 1 goal. His most notable achievement came during the inaugural African Football League in 2023, where he played a fundamental role in Sundowns’ championship victory. He scored the only goal across both semi-final legs against Egyptian giants Al Ahly, a performance that earned him recognition as the Best Player and Top Goal Scorer of the competition.
Maseko has won the South African Premiership twice with Sundowns, securing the title in the 2023 to 2024 season and again in the 2024 to 2025 season.
AEL Limassol Loan (2026)
In January 2026, Maseko was loaned to Cypriot First Division club AEL Limassol for the remainder of the 2025 to 2026 season. He made 12 appearances for the Cypriot club, scoring 1 goal before returning to Sundowns ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
International Career
South Africa National Team Debut
Thapelo Maseko made his senior debut for South Africa in 2022 at the COSAFA Cup. He has earned 8 caps for Bafana Bafana as of February 2024, scoring 1 goal. He also represented South Africa U23 in 2023, making 2 appearances and scoring 1 goal.
2023 Africa Cup of Nations
In January 2024, Maseko was selected for the South Africa squad at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast. He scored his first senior international goal at the tournament on 21 January 2024 against Namibia at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium in Korhogo. His goal helped South Africa secure a 4 to 0 victory. South Africa went on to finish third in the competition, their best AFCON result since 2000.
2026 FIFA World Cup Qualification
Thapelo Maseko has been named in the South Africa 2026 World Cup squad. His selection comes after consistent performances for Mamelodi Sundowns and his successful loan spell at AEL Limassol. South African fans expect Maseko to play a significant role on the wing during the tournament, using his speed and technical ability to create goal-scoring opportunities.
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Playing Style
Thapelo Maseko operates primarily as a winger. His key strengths include his pace, close ball control, and ability to cut inside from the flank. He is known for his work rate in both attacking and defensive phases of the game. Standing at 1.78 m, he uses his low center of gravity to maintain balance when dribbling past defenders.
Career Statistics
Thapelo Maseko has made 32 appearances for SuperSport United with 4 goals. For Mamelodi Sundowns, he has 19 appearances and 1 goal. During his loan at AEL Limassol, he made 12 appearances and scored 1 goal. His total club appearances stand at 63 with 6 goals across all competitions.
For the South Africa national team, Maseko has 8 caps and 1 goal. That goal came at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations against Namibia.
International Goals
Thapelo Maseko has scored 1 goal for South Africa. It came on 21 January 2024 at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium in Korhogo, Ivory Coast. His goal made the score 4 to 0 against Namibia in a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations group stage match. South Africa won the match 4 to 0.
Honours and Achievements
With Mamelodi Sundowns, Thapelo Maseko has won the South African Premiership twice, in the 2023 to 2024 season and the 2024 to 2025 season. He also won the African Football League with Sundowns in 2023.
Individually, Maseko was named the Best Player of the African Football League in 2023. He was also the Top Goal Scorer of the same competition.
With the South Africa national team, he finished third at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
2026 World Cup Outlook
Thapelo Maseko enters the 2026 World Cup as one of the exciting young players in the South Africa squad. At age 22, he represents the next generation of Bafana Bafana talent. His experience at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, where he scored his first international goal, prepared him for the pressure of major tournaments. South African soccer fans searching for Thapelo Maseko news, Thapelo Maseko stats, or South Africa 2026 World Cup squad updates will find complete information on Fakaza HipHopza.
Personal Information Summary
Thapelo Maseko was born 11 November 2003 in Sebokeng, Gauteng, South Africa. He is currently 22 years old. His height is 1.78 m which is 5 feet 10 inches. His position is winger. He currently plays for Mamelodi Sundowns. His previous clubs include SuperSport United and a loan spell at AEL Limassol. He wears the South Africa national team jersey number determined by match selection.