Can Sundowns beat Chiefs without Tebza?
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With Teboho Mokoena possibly missing tomorrow’s Betway Premiership clash against Kaizer Chiefs, can Mamelodi Sundowns cope without him? Photo: Gallo Images
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Can Sundowns beat Chiefs without Tebza?
Aug 14, 2026 – 09:29 am
By Thato Bosoga
With midfielder Teboho Mokoena a doubt for their big clash against Kaizer Chiefs, KickOff looks at how Mamelodi Sundowns have performed without the Bafana Bafana anchorman in the big matches in the last three seasons.
Assistant coach Fabio Fernandes reportedly posted images showing a significant wound on the midfielder’s ankle, making his availability for the Glamour Boys clash a serious doubt. Mokoena already missed Sundowns’ 3-2 league win over TS Galaxy on Tuesday.
Mokoena missed two big matches last season with varying outcomes:
Sundowns proved they could manage without him, edging Chiefs 2-1 early in the 2024/25 season courtesy of goals from Lucas Ribeiro Costa and Iqraam Rayners. However, his absence was sorely felt in the 2023/24 CAF Champions League semi-final, where back-to-back 1-0 defeats ended Sundowns’ continental dreams.
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The question for Chloorkop is simple: which Mokoena-less Sundowns will turn up? If he’s ruled out, the technical staff must find a midfield combination that matches not just his quality, but his leadership. Without him, Sundowns can still win — but consistently winning the matches that matter most remains unproven.