Hildah Magaia is one of the most accomplished soccer players from South Africa. She was born on 15 October 1994 in Pretoria, where she developed her passion for football at a young age. She joined the University of Pretoria Football Club, where she played as a striker and honed her skills.
In 2017, Hildah Magaia made a significant move to Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) in the South African top flight, the Sasol Women’s League. She quickly became a key player for the team, scoring 29 goals in 18 matches and helping them win the league title in 2018. She also won the Golden Boot award for being the top scorer in the league.
International recognition and exposure
Her skills and dedication earned her the title of Best Player at the 2020 COSAFA Women’s Championship, a regional tournament for Southern African countries. She scored four goals in five matches, leading South Africa to the final, where they lost to Tanzania on penalties.
Her impressive performance caught the attention of Swedish club Morön BK, who signed her on a two-year contract in 2021. She became the first South African woman to play in Sweden’s second division, the Elitettan. She scored six goals in 14 appearances for the club, before moving to another Swedish club, Lidköpings FK, in 2022.
Later that year, she signed with Sejong Sportstoto in South Korea ahead of the 2022 season. She became the second South African woman to play in the WK League, South Korea’s top division for women’s football. She scored three goals in seven matches for the club, before returning to South Africa to join the national team for the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations.
National team achievements and glory
Hildah Magaia has proudly represented South Africa at various international stages, such as the 2019 Summer Universiade, where she scored two goals in four matches. She made her senior debut for the national team, known as Banyana Banyana, in 2018. Since then, she has been a regular member of the squad, scoring 15 goals in 25 caps.
Magaia’s presence was vital for the Banyana Banyana squad at the 2022 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations in Morocco. She scored the game-winning goal in a 2-1 victory against Nigeria’s Super Falcons in the semi-final, sending South Africa to their first final since 2012. In the final, Magaia’s exceptional performance shone again, as she scored two goals, leading South Africa to a 3-1 win over Cameroon and securing the trophy for the national team. She also won the Golden Boot award for being the top scorer of the tournament with five goals.
Hildah Magaia also qualified for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup with South Africa, who made their second appearance at the global stage after their debut in 2019. She scored her first goal in the World Cup against Sweden in their opening match, but her team lost 1-2. She also found the back of the net in a thrilling match against Italy, securing a crucial 3-2 win for her team and advancing them to the knockout stage.