Nkota: A New Chapter With Global Stars
South Africa’s sensation Mohau Nkota is set to rub shoulders with some of the world’s best footballers after his transfer to Saudi Arabian side Al Ettifaq was confirmed on Sunday.
The Soweto Giants reached an agreement with Ettifaq, with only the personal terms and a medical remaining as a formality for the young midfielder, joining the rich league that has global superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.
Nkota’s move comes after a remarkable debut season with the Buccaneers, where he made 39 official appearances and contributed to 12 goals.
A Star-Studded Squad Awaits Nkota
At Al Ettifaq, Nkota will be training alongside established international talents. Among them is former France international Moussa Dembélé, a 29-year-old striker who has played for Celtic, Olympique Lyonnais, and Atlético Madrid.
Dembélé’s trophy cabinet includes two Scottish League titles and two Scottish Cups with Celtic, as well as the Spanish La Liga title with Atlético Madrid in the 2020/21 season.
Since joining Ettifaq in the 2023/24 season, he has scored 21 goals in 47 matches, with seven of those coming in 21 appearances across all competitions in the 2024/25 season.
Another prominent figure at Ettifaq is Cameroonian striker Karl Toko-Ekambi. He was part of the Indomitable Lions squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2017 under current Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos.
Toko-Ekambi brings a wealth of experience, having played for clubs like Lyon, Sochaux, Angers, Villarreal, and Rennes. He also had a brief stint with former Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane at Abha FC.
Wijnaldum Leads the Charge
Perhaps the most recognizable name on the team sheet is former Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum, who joined the club in February 2023. Wijnaldum was a key member of the Liverpool side that famously won the Premier League for the first time in 30 years (2019/20 season), the UEFA Champions League (2018/19 season), and the FIFA Club World Cup (2019).
Notably, in that Champions League campaign, he came off the bench to score two crucial goals in the second leg of the semi-final against Barcelona at Anfield, helping Liverpool overturn a 3-0 deficit to win 4-0. He later moved to PSG in 2021, winning the French Ligue 1 title in his first season.
The club also previously featured Ivorian midfielder Sekou Fofana, who won the Africa Cup of Nations on home soil last year. Former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson and Steven Gerrard, who was the coach, also had stints at the club.
Despite their impressive roster of past and present stars, Al Ettifaq has not won a major trophy since clinching the AGCFF Gulf Champions League in 2006.
