By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Percy Tau will become the 36th player to reach the 50-cap milestone for South Africa if he is selected to play in their World Cup qualifier against Benin in Abidjan on Tuesday.
Tau, the Lion of Judah, having made his international debut under Ephraim “Shakes” Mashaba in 2015 at 21 years old, so far has only last year’s Africa Cup of Nations bronze medal to show for his decade-long involvement with the national side.
Tau competed in his first game for South Africa in some nine months against Lesotho in Polokwane on Friday and drew praise from coach Hugo Broos for his efforts in the 2-0 win, which put the team top of the Group C standings as they bid to qualify for the 2026 World Cup in North America.
The 30-year-old Tau missed the entire 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign between September and November last year as his club career at Al Ahly of Egypt waned.
He has since moved to Qatar where he has been getting some commendable game time with Qatar SC.
Broos said Tau had found his old rhythm and although he did not score against Lesotho, he had worked hard for the team.
Neil Tovey was the first player to reach 50 caps for South Africa and 34 have followed him, the last being current Bafana captain Ronwen Williams.
South Africa’s 2010 World Cup captain Aaron Mokoena remains the country’s most capped international and only player to reach 100 caps.