Rangers Man Praised by South Africa Boss After Impressing Against Dortmund Striker

According to a report by media outlet Glasgow Times, Olwethu Makhanya, a South African footballer currently under contract with Scottish Premiership side Rangers FC, was praised heavily after displaying a strong performance for his national team. Makhanya strongly defended a Guinean striker playing for German club Borussia Dortmund and contributed heavily to his side’s 2-1 victory over Guinea in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier fixture.

The match was just Makhanya’s second international cap after making his debut for Bafana Bafana in a friendly against Nicaragua, played on 29 May 2026. His first match was under previous boss Hugo Broos, and the latest one was under current manager Pitso Mosimane.

The boss was full of praise for the 22-year-old defender. In the post-match interview, the manager said, “Olwethu Makhanya was very good, along with Kamogelo Sebelebele and Ime Okon.”

The former Bafana Bafana midfielder further said, “These are guys who were a part of the World Cup, but did not play, and we have to give them a chance to show themselves.”

Mosimane praised the 22-year-old’s performance against the Dortmund striker in particular. He said, “Olwethu was up against a striker from Borussia Dortmund who is full of quality, and he handled him very well.” 

The boss seemed very satisfied with the 2-1 victory and the team currently at his disposal, going on to say, “So I was delighted at the win against a very good team, and we now have players coming through who will be very important to this team.”

Makhanya, who started with South African club Stellenbosch, has also been a part of MLS club Philadelphia Union. He currently plays for Scottish Premiership side Rangers, a club he joined on a four-year deal starting 30 July 2026. For the latter, he has appeared in 5 official league fixtures.

While at Philadelphia Union, Makhanya was part of the squad that won the 2025 Supporters’ Shield.

The next international fixture that the young defender is set to feature in is against Eritrea, a team that has only recently returned to international football after four years away from the sport. The match is set to be played in a neutral venue in Cairo, the capital city of Egypt, as Eritrea do not currently have facilities worthy enough to host international football.

Considered one of the brighter prospects of world football, Olwethu Makhanya is sure to go a long way in his career if he keeps up the performance of the kind he displayed against Guinea.