Oswin Appollis is continuing to show why he has become one of South Africa’s most influential attacking players, with the Orlando Pirates winger producing another standout performance for Bafana Bafana.
Appollis provided three assists as South Africa cruised to a 5-0 victory over Eritrea on Wednesday, underlining his growing importance to the national side.
A Remarkable Assist Record
The performance also placed Appollis in a rare statistical category for Bafana Bafana.
According to OptaJabu, the 24-year-old has now recorded three assists in a single international match on two occasions. His previous hat-trick of assists came against Congo in October 2024.
That means Appollis is the first Bafana player to achieve the feat since he did it himself, adding another impressive milestone to his international record.
His creativity against Eritrea was central to South Africa’s dominant display and further strengthened his reputation as one of the team’s key providers in the final third.
Aubaas’ Early Exit Overshadows Start
While Appollis enjoyed another productive outing, Bathusi Aubaas endured a frustrating evening after being forced off with an injury just 12 minutes into the match.
The 31-year-old midfielder has made three Betway Premiership appearances this season and has registered one assist.
Aubaas last reached double figures for league appearances during the 2024-25 campaign, when he featured 14 times. However, he went through that season and the following campaign without registering either a goal or an assist.
His inclusion in the latest Bafana squad has prompted debate among some supporters online, although he remains part of Pitso Mosimane’s plans.
Mosimane Makes Winning Start
The victory over Eritrea gave Mosimane two wins from two AFCON qualifying matches since taking charge of the national team.
Bafana will now turn their attention to Egypt, with the two sides scheduled to meet in an international friendly on Sunday, 4 October. Kick-off is set for 20:00.
The fixture will provide Mosimane with another opportunity to assess his squad, while players such as Appollis will look to carry their recent form into the next international assignment.
Pirates Face Sundowns in MTN8 Final
Appollis will have little time to rest once the international break ends, with a major domestic fixture awaiting him and Orlando Pirates.
The defending Betway Premiership champions are scheduled to face Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 final on Saturday, 10 October.
The final is set to kick off at 15:00, with Appollis expected to be one of the players Pirates will look to for attacking inspiration.
His latest Bafana performance will only heighten expectations surrounding his contribution when he returns to club duty.
