Mamelodi Sundowns and Bafana Bafana have been dealt a major blow after Khuliso Mudau was ruled out for up to six months with a complete rupture of his Achilles tendon.
The defender suffered the serious injury during Sundowns’ 2-0 Betway Premiership victory over Marumo Gallants at Loftus Versfeld Stadium and now faces a lengthy rehabilitation period.
Mudau Suffers Serious Injury
Mudau’s evening came to a premature end in the first half of Sundowns’ victory over Gallants.
The right-back went down following a non-contact incident and was unable to continue, with the 31-year-old eventually stretchered off in the 36th minute.
Further assessment has since confirmed a complete rupture of the Achilles tendon.
Mudau is expected to consult specialists and undergo surgery as the first step of what is set to be a lengthy recovery process.
Six Months on the Sidelines
The severity of the injury means Mudau is expected to be unavailable for at least six months.
Such a timeline could keep one of Sundowns’ most important defenders out for the majority of the 2026/27 season.
The immediate focus will now be on successful surgery and rehabilitation before any potential return date can be considered.
Major Blow for Sundowns
Mudau’s absence presents Miguel Cardoso with a significant selection problem at an important stage of the campaign.
Sundowns are preparing for the MTN8 semi-finals while also competing in the Betway Premiership, with their CAF Champions League campaign still to come.
Mudau has been an important part of the Sundowns defence, and Cardoso acknowledged the scale of the setback following the match.
His long-term absence will now force Sundowns to find an alternative solution at right-back as they compete across multiple competitions.
Bafana Bafana Also Hit Hard
The impact extends beyond Chloorkop.
Mudau is also a key figure for Bafana Bafana and his injury comes ahead of South Africa’s upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
His expected six-month absence means the national team will have to navigate upcoming international windows without one of its established defenders.
For both Sundowns and Bafana, the priority now turns to Mudau’s recovery as he begins a lengthy road back to competitive football.