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Cassius Mailula
Personal information
Full name	Cassius Tumelo Mailula
Date of birth	(2001-06-12) 12 June 2001 (age 23)
Place of birth	Ga-Molepo, Limpopo, South Africa
Height	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s)	Striker, midfielder
Team information
Current team	Wydad AC (on loan from Toronto FC)
Youth career
2016–2022	Mamelodi Sundowns
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2022–2023	Mamelodi Sundowns	18	(9)
2023–	Toronto FC	5	(0)
2024	→ Toronto FC II (loan)	1	(0)
2024–	→ Wydad AC (loan)	4	(0)
International career^‡
2023–	South Africa	2	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23 October 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 9 July 2023

Cassius Tumelo Mailula (born 12 June 2001) is a South African professional soccer player who plays for Moroccan club Wydad AC in the Botola on loan from Major League Soccer club Toronto FC and the South Africa national team.

Early life

In 2016, he joined the Mamelodi Sundowns Academy, after being scouted at the Mandela Youth Challenge in Soweto, where he was named Player Of The Tournament and won the Golden Boot award.^[1]^[2]

Club career

Mailula made his senior debut for Mamelodi Sundowns in the South African Premier Division during a 1–0 win against Chippa United in September 2022.^[3]^[4] He scored his first senior goals on 14 October 2022, in a match against La Passe FC in the CAF Champions League, netting a hat-trick.^[5]^[6] He scored his first league goals on 25 October, netting a brace against Maritzburg United.^[7] Mailula was subsequently named the league's Young Player of the Season for his debut campaign.^[8]

In July 2023, Mailula signed with Major League Soccer club Toronto FC, signing through the 2026 season, with an option for 2027.^[9]^[10] He made his debut on 26 August 2023, in a substitute appearance, against the Columbus Crew.^[11] He scored his first goal for the club on 24 April 2024 in a 2024 Canadian Championship match against semi-pro club Simcoe County Rovers FC.^[12] In 2024, he spent some time on loan with the second team, Toronto FC II, in MLS Next Pro.^[13] In August 2024, he went on loan with Moroccan Botola club Wydad AC through 31 July 2025, with an option for a permanent transfer at the conclusion of the loan, reuniting him with Rhulani Mokwena, who was his coach with the Mamelodi Sundowns.^[14]

International career

In March 2023, Mailula was called up to the South Africa national team for the first time for 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches.^[15]^[16] He made his debut on 24 March 2023 against Liberia.^[17]

Career statistics

As of match played 15 June 2024^[18]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club	Season	League			Playoffs		National cup^[a]		Continental		Other		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goal	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Mamelodi Sundowns	2022–23	South African Premier Division	18	9	—		2	0	10^[b]	7	2^[c]	0	32	16
Toronto FC	2023	Major League Soccer	3	0	—		0	0	—		0	0	3	0
	2024	Major League Soccer	2	0	0	0	3	2	—		0	0	5	2
	Total		5	0	0	0	3	2	—		0	0	8	2
Toronto FC II (loan)	2024	MLS Next Pro	1	0	—		—		—		—		1	0
Career total			24	9	0	0	5	2	10	7	2	0	40	17

^ Includes Nedbank Cup and Canadian Championship
^ Appearances in CAF Champions League
^ Appearances in MTN 8

Honours

Mamelodi Sundowns

South African Premier Division: 2022–23

Individual

South African Premier Division Young Player of the Season: 2022–23^[19]

References

^ Rabothe, Tshepo (24 August 2022). "Who is Cassius Mailula – the unknown Sundowns substitute?". Far Post.
^ "Mailula backed by teammate for bright future". Kick Off. 29 October 2022.
^ "Player Analysis: Cassius Mailula". Breaking the Lines. 11 May 2023.
^ Sithole, Sinethemba (9 September 2022). "Cassius Mailula grateful after making Mamelodi Sundowns' debut". The South African.
^ Mark, Jonty (14 October 2022). "Mailula shines as Sundowns hand La Passe another pasting". The Citizen.
^ "Mailula hat-trick helps Sundowns thrash La Passe in CAF Champions League". News24. 14 October 2022.
^ Madlala, Robin-Duke (25 October 2022). "Mailula & Domingo Grab Braces As Sundowns Crush Maritzburg". iDiski Times.
^ Mphahlele, Mahlatse (29 May 2023). "After breakthrough season Sundowns' Mailula wants to be home with his mom". TimesLIVE.
^ Mphahlele, Mahlatse (25 July 2023). "'Dream come true to play against Messi': Sundowns' Mailula on move to MLS". TimesLIVE.
^ "Toronto FC sign South African forward Cassius Mailula". Toronto FC. 28 July 2023.
^ Madyauta, Terry (28 August 2023). "Former Sundowns star Cassius Mailula reflects on his MLS debut". Far Post.
^ "Cassius Mailula scores first goal for Toronto FC in thrashing of Simcoe County Rovers". Waking the Red. 25 April 2024.
^ "Toronto FC loan Cassius Mailula to Toronto FC II". Toronto FC. 28 April 2024.
^ Khoza, Neville (21 August 2024). "Mailula explains why he joined Rulani-coached Wydad in Morocco". The Sowetan.
^ Willis, Seth (21 March 2023). "Mailula delighted with 'surprise' Bafana Bafana call-up - 'It's always been something I wanted'". Goal. Archived from the original on 28 July 2023.
^ Strydom, Marc (7 March 2023). "Sundowns' red-hot Cassius Mailula included in Bafana squad". TimesLIVE.
^ Mphahlele, Mahlatse (24 March 2023). "Unconvincing Bafana stunned by Liberia as Afcon hopes fade". TimesLIVE.
^ Cassius Mailula at Soccerway
^ "Mokoena, Seleng win top honours at PSL awards". Premier Soccer League. 28 May 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.

External links

v t e Wydad AC – current squad
1 Maftah 2 Mahrous 4 Aboulfath 5 Jabrane (c) 6 Baaouch 7 El Moutaraji 8 Moutaraji 9 Niang 10 Elhouni 11 Ounajem 12 Mourid 13 Haimoud 15 Regragui 16 Harkass 17 Draoui 18 Ahannach 19 Lahtimi 20 Chetti 21 El Bahri 22 El Amloud 23 Boussefiane 25 Farhane 26 Ait Brayem 29 Khannouss 30 Bouhra 32 El Motie 34 Benyachou 35 Zola 40 Boubacca Manager: Ramzi