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A request that this article title be changed to Yaya Sithole is under discussion. Please do not move this article until the discussion is closed.
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Sithole during the 2026 FIFA World Cup
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Sphephelo S'Miso Sithole[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 3 March 1999 | ||
| Place of birth | Ulundi, South Africa | ||
| Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
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Current team
|
Tondela | ||
| Number | 15 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2016–2017 | KZN Academy | ||
| 2017–2018 | Sporting | ||
| 2018–2019 | Vitória Setúbal | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2019–2023 | B-SAD | 71 | (0) |
| 2023– | Tondela | 48 | (3) |
| 2024–2025 | → Gil Vicente (loan) | 2 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2015 | South Africa u17 | ||
| 2022– | South Africa | 27 | (1) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 18 May 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 29 April 2026 |
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Sphephelo S'Miso "Yaya" Sithole (born 3 March 1999) is a South African professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Primeira Liga club CD Tondela and the South Africa national team.
Club career
Sithole made his professional debut with B-SAD in a 1–1 Primeira Liga tie with Braga on 15 July 2020.[2]
On 11 July 2023, following B-SAD's relegation from the Liga Portugal 2, Sithole signed a two-year contract with Tondela.[3]
On 22 July 2024, Sithole joined Primeira Liga club Gil Vicente on a season-long loan deal with the option to purchase.[4]
International career
On 1 December 2025, Sithole was called up to the South Africa squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.[5]
On 11 June 2026, in the opening game of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Sithole received a red card after 50 minutes of play for denying Mexico midfielder Brian Gutiérrez a goal scoring opportunity, becoming the first player to be sent off in the tournament.[6]
Career statistics
International
- As of match played 15 November 2025
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 2022 | 3 | 0 |
| 2023 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 12 | 0 | |
| 2025 | 2 | 1 | |
| Total | 23 | 1 | |
- Scores and results list South Africa's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Sithole goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15 November 2025 | Gqeberha, South Africa |  Zambia |
3–0 | 3–1 | Friendly | [7] |
Honours
South Africa
- Africa Cup of Nations third place: 2023[8]
References
- ^ "FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2015 List of Players: South Africa" (PDF). fifadata.com. FIFA. p. 22. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 November 2019.
- ^ "Sporting Braga vs. Belenenses – 15 July 2020 – Soccerway". int.soccerway.com.
- ^ "Oficial: Sithole contratado à B SAD (Tondela)" [Official: Sithole signed from B SAD (Tondela)]. A Bola (in Portuguese). 11 July 2023. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
- ^ "YAYA SITHOLE É GALO E JÁ SE JUNTOU AO GRUPO" [YAYA SITHOLE IS A GALO AND HAS ALREADY JOINED THE GROUP]. gilvicentefc.pt (in Portuguese). 22 July 2024. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
- ^ "TotalEnergies AFCON Morocco 2025 fever rises as Broos become first coach to unveil final squad". Confederation of African Football. 1 December 2025. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
- ^ Anderson, Live ReportingJess. "Mexico vs South Africa LIVE: FIFA World Cup 2026 Group A - score, radio commentary, text updates & stats". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
- ^ "South Africa vs Zambia". www.fifa.com.
- ^ Edwards, Piers (10 February 2024). "South Africa 0–0 DR Congo". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 12 February 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
External links
- Sphephelo Sithole at Soccerway
- Sphephelo Sithole at ForaDeJogo (archived)
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South Africa squads
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