Chicago Fire winger Dithejane receives call-up to South Africa national team — Daily Maverick
In South Africa, Chicago Fire winger Puso Dithejane has received his first call-up to the national team. The 22-year-old footballer was included in the squad by the team’s new head coach, Pitso Mosimane, ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches.
As Daily Maverick reports, South Africa will play Guinea on September 26 and Eritrea four days later. The team will also play a friendly against Egypt in Cairo on October 4. For this international camp, Mosimane called up 30 players instead of the usual squad of 26 footballers.
Form in MLS
Dithejane joined Chicago Fire at the beginning of the year alongside fellow countryman Mbekezeli Mbokazi. After the pause in the MLS season linked to the 2026 World Cup, the winger found form and was named his club’s player of July-August.
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In the current season, Dithejane has made 23 appearances for Chicago Fire in all competitions, scoring four goals and providing two assists. At first, he mainly featured in cup matches and also played for the reserve team in MLS Next Pro to maintain match fitness. Later, the club’s coaching staff began involving him more often with the first team.
South Africa national team squad
Mosimane retained the core of the team formed by his predecessor Hugo Broos but added new players. Dithejane is one of nine players in the current squad who play abroad. The coach said that a place in the national team should be determined by quality and regular playing time, rather than simply playing in Europe or other foreign leagues.
Before his call-up to the national team, Dithejane played in the Kaizer Chiefs youth system and later moved to TS Galaxy. He made 63 appearances in all competitions for TS Galaxy before moving to the United States.
