Best striker in South Africa 2024: Top goal-scorer almost relegated with his team

Mamelodi Sundowns underlined their dominance in the 2023-24 South African Premier Soccer League by collecting 73 points - a new benchmark for a 30-game PSL campaign, surpassing the previous record they had set themselves. The achievement further strengthened their reputation as the leading force in South African football.

Yet the league’s most prolific scorer did not emerge from the champions’ squad. Instead, he plied his trade at Moroka Swallows, who endured a difficult season and finished 14th, just two points clear of the relegation play-off spot.

In this article, soccer24.net takes a closer look at the best striker in South Africa 2024, presenting a top 10 list of the division’s most effective forwards.

Best striker in South Africa 2024: League’s top scorer almost went down with his team

Tshegofatso Mabasa ended the 2023-24 DStv Premiership campaign as the league’s leading scorer, finishing with 16 goals in the competition. Across all tournaments - including the Nedbank Cup and MTN8 - he registered 19 goals in 33 appearances, averaging nearly one strike every 137 minutes.

His season, however, was split into two distinct chapters. Mabasa began the campaign on loan at Moroka Swallows, where he rediscovered his scoring touch after a challenging spell. His prolific form, combined with mounting financial problems at Swallows, prompted Orlando Pirates to recall him in January 2024.

While Mabasa thrived individually, Moroka Swallows endured a turbulent and controversial year. Although they managed to secure survival on the field, the club was engulfed in a severe internal crisis that ultimately cost them their top-flight status. In December 2023, players went on strike over unpaid wages, leaving the team unable to honor fixtures against Mamelodi Sundowns and Golden Arrows. The PSL Disciplinary Committee subsequently ruled against the club, awarding 3-0 victories to their opponents for the unfulfilled matches.

Close behind in the scoring charts was Iqraam Rayners, who enjoyed a standout 2023–24 campaign with Stellenbosch FC and further enhanced his standing as one of the most potent forwards in South African football.

Rayners concluded the league season with 15 goals, establishing a new club record for the most strikes by a Stellenbosch player in a single top-flight campaign. His consistency in front of goal provided the foundation for a season that will be remembered as one of the most productive in the club’s history.

In all competitions, he delivered 24 goals in 38 appearances - an impressive return that underlined both his durability and his influence across multiple fronts. Beyond the numbers, Rayners proved decisive in key moments. He played a pivotal role in Stellenbosch’s triumph in the 2023 Carling Knockout Cup, helping secure the first major top-flight trophy since the club’s promotion to the elite division.

It was a season that combined individual milestones with collective success, firmly placing Rayners among the league’s elite attacking talents.

Third place in the scoring charts was shared by two players, each finishing the league campaign with 12 goals: Bradley Grobler of SuperSport United and Lucas Ribeiro of Mamelodi Sundowns.

Grobler once again underlined his reputation as one of the PSL’s most reliable forwards, spearheading the attack for Matsatsantsa in his 11th season at the club. By the conclusion of the 2023-24 campaign, he had taken his overall tally to 113 career goals, edging closer to Siyabonga Nomvethe’s long-standing PSL-era record of 123.

Ribeiro’s impact, meanwhile, was immediate. Arriving from Belgium with little fanfare, the Brazilian quickly established himself as one of the most dangerous attackers in the country. In his debut league season, he registered 12 goals and four assists in just 18 appearances, playing a key role in Sundowns’ title-winning run. He also celebrated success on the continental stage, lifting both the DStv Premiership trophy and the inaugural African Football League crown in his first year in South African football.

Top 10 best striker in South Africa 2024

Tshegofatso Mabaso - Moroka Swallows - 16 goals

Iqraam Rayners - Stellenbosch FC - 15 goals

Bradley Grobler - SuperSport United - 12 goals

Lucas Ribeiro - Mamelodi Sundowns - 12 goals

Peter Shalulile - Mamelodi Sundowns - 9 goals

Sphiwe Mahlangu - TS Galaxy - 8 goals

Khanyisa Mayo - Cape Town City FC - 8 goals

Samir Nurković - TS Galaxy - 8 goals

Chibuike Ohizu - Sekhukhune United - 8 goals

Ashley Cupido - Cape Town Spurs - 7 goals

Soccer24 has named the best striker in South Africa 2024, unveiling the top 10 top scorers of the 2023-24 South African Premier Soccer League.

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