Samukele Kabini
Squad number 18 · Molde
Their 2026 World Cup
Samukele Kabini travelled to the 2026 World Cup with South Africa, wearing number 18, without ever getting on the pitch. His side played 4 matches (1 win, 1 draw and 2 defeats) and bowed out in the round of 32, beaten by Canada 1-0.
Defence went to K. Mudau (4 matches, 367′) and I. Okon (4 matches, 367′).
Another 6 players in the South Africa squad ended up the same way, without a single minute. The full run is on the South Africa team page.
Biography
Samukele Alucious Kabini (born 15 March 2004) is a South African professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Eliteserien club Molde FK and the South Africa national team.
Youth career Kabini came through the Orlando Pirates Youth system. He was a vital part of their PSL Reserve League squad and was ready to be promoted before he was poached by TS Galaxy FC in 2023.
TS Galaxy Kabini joined TS Galaxy F.C. in 2023 and made 13 league appearances in his debut season in the South African Top Flight League. He played a further 19 league games before his R15 million move to the Norwegian side, Molde FK in March 2025.
Molde On 20 March 2025, Norwegian Eliteserien club Molde announced the signing of Kabini from TS Galaxy on a contract until 2028.
International career On 1 December 2025, Kabini was called up to the South Africa squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. On 28 May 2026, he was selected by manager Hugo Broos to represent his nation at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0) · text adapted from the article.
See all the tournament stats on the World Cup data hub.