Hildah Magaia

Hildah Tholakele Magaia (born 16 December 1994) is a South African professional soccer player who plays as a forward for Liga F club Deportivo de La Coruña and the South Africa national team.

Magaia scored the brace that gave South Africa their first Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title in a 2–1 win over Morocco in 2022.

She was added to the class of 2024 for the Forbes Africa 30 under 30 list featuring uncovering some of the most influential and iconic young people on the continent.

Club career

University of Pretoria/Tshwane University of Technology Magaia started her career with South African second-tier side Tuks Ladies. For the 2017 season, Magaia signed for TUT Ladies, helping them to their only league title at the 2018 Sasol League National Championship. She was named Diski Queen on the Tournament, player of the tournament, for the 2018 season.

Sejong Sportstoto In 2022, she signed for Sejong Sportstoto in South Korea.

Mazatlán In January 2024, Magaia joined Mexican Liga MX Femenil club Mazatlán Femenil.

Kansas City Current (loan) On 21 August 2024, the Kansas City Current announced that they had signed Magaia on loan from Mazatlán for the remainder of the 2024 National Women's Soccer League season with the option to acquire her rights on a permanent basis at the conclusion of the loan. The club announced her departure on 19 December 2024.

Club Tijuana In January 2025, she made the move to Liga MX Femenil side Club Tijuana.

Deportivo de La Coruña In January 2026 she joined Liga F club Deportivo de La Coruña.

International career Magaia represented South Africa at the 2019 Summer Universiade.

She was voted the Best Player at the 2020 COSAFA Women's Championship tournament, earning herself a 2-year deal with Swedish club Morön BK.

Magaia was part of the Banyana Banyana squad that featured at the 2022 Africa Women Cup of Nations in Morocco. At the tourney, she scored a 63rd-minute winning goal in a 2–1 win Group C match against Nigeria's Super Falcons and also Scored 2 goals in the Final against Morocco to win the trophy for the South African Female National Team.

On 23 July 2023, Magaia scored her first goal in a FIFA Women's World Cup competition in a 1–2 defeat to Sweden in the group stage.

International goals No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1. 10 June 2018 Dr. Petrus Molemela Stadium, Bloemfontein, South Africa 5–0 6–0 2018 Women's Africa Cup of Nations qualification 2. 31 July 2019 Wolfson Stadium, KwaZakele, South Africa 11–0 17–0 2019 COSAFA Women's Championship 3. 14–0 4. 9 November 2020 3–0 7–0 2020 COSAFA Women's Championship 5. 26 October 2021 Orlando Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa 3–0 6–0 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations qualification 6. 4–0 7. 18 February 2022 1–0 2–0 8. 4 July 2022 Stade Moulay Hassan, Rabat, Morocco 2–0 2–1 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations 9. 23 July 2022 Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat, Morocco 1–0 2–1 10. 2–0 11. 8 October 2022 Kingsmeadow, Kingston upon Thames, England 1–4 1–4 Friendly 12. 21 February 2023 Miracle Sports Complex, Alanya, Turkey 1–1 1–1 2023 Turkish Women's Cup 13. 10 April 2023 Serbian FA Sports Center, Stara Pazova, Serbia 1–3 2–3 Friendly 14. 23 July 2023 Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand 1–0 1–2 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup 15. 2 August 2023 2–1 3–2 16. 30 November 2023 Charles Konan Banny Stadium, Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast 1–0 1–1 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations qualification 17. 23 February 2024 Chamazi Stadium, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania 3–0 3–0 2024 CAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament 18. 8 April 2025 UJ Soweto Campus, Johannesburg, South Africa 1–1 2–1 Friendly 19. 14 July 2025 Honneur Stadium, Oujda, Morocco 3–0 4–0 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations 20. 31 July 2026 Moulay Rachid Stadium, Casablanca, Morocco 2–2 2–2 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations qualification

Honours

TUT

Sasol League National Championship: 2018

South Africa

Women's Africa Cup of Nations: 2022 Cosafa Women's Championship: 2020

Individual

Women's Africa Cup of Nations Top Scorer: 2022 Cosafa Women's Championship: Best Player: 2020 SAFA Women's League: Top Scorer: 2019-20 SAFA Women's League: Player of the Season: 2019-20 Sasol Women's League: Diski Queen of the Tournament: 2018