Lucas Ribeiro Costa in a Bafana Bafana jersey is probably something you didn’t have on your 2025 bingo card – but it could become a reality.
Perhaps it won’t happen this year, but Hugo Broos and Ribeiro are considering it for the future, fuelling speculation of his Bafana arrival.
The Mamelodi Sundowns sensation has resided in South Africa for two years since joining from S.K. Beveren, meaning the league’s leading scorer has three more years until being eligible for South African citizenship.
There are whispers of Ribeiro’s citizenship being fast-tracked, which isn’t entirely out of the question – globally there’s a history of nations allowing athletes to swap allegiances in a bid to bolster squads.
Ribeiro talks SA prospect
If the opportunity to play for Bafana arises, Ribeiro seems ready to put on the jersey:
“At this point in time, I have not received any invitation to play for the South African national team,” Costa replied on the likeliness of him joining Bafana Bafana.
“I do not think that I qualify yet, but when I do qualify and get a call-up, that will be great and a pleasure,
“Bafana are also doing well on the continent, and they are competing against the best teams. Playing for national teams is the highest achievement for many soccer players,
“There are also a lot of Sundowns players in Bafana, and that would be easier for me to adapt.”
The 26-year-old phenom has been prolific since joining Sundowns, scoring twenty-eight goals, along with nineteen assists in sixty-four games – South Africa would have a world-class player at their disposal.
Should Bafana try get Ribeiro?
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