{{Short description|South African soccer player}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}} {{Use South African English|date=August 2022}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Evidence Makgopa | image = | caption = Evidence Makgopa with South Africa national soccer team in AFCON 2023 | fullname = Sekotori Evidence Makgopa | birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|6|5|df=y}} | birth_place = GaMampa, South Africa | height = 1.88 m<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.orlandopiratesfc.com/team/forwards/evidence-makgopa/ |title=Evidence Makgopa |publisher= Orlando Pirates |access-date=24 September 2024}}</ref> | position = Forward | currentclub = Orlando Pirates | clubnumber = 17 | youthyears1 = 2018–2019 | youthclubs1 = Baroka | years1 = 2019–2022 | clubs1 = Baroka | caps1 = 64 | goals1 = 14 | years2 = 2022– | clubs2 = Orlando Pirates | caps2 = 54 | goals2 = 13 | nationalyears1 = 2021 | nationalteam1 = South Africa Olympic | nationalcaps1 = 3 | nationalgoals1 = 1 | nationalyears2 = 2021– | nationalteam2 = South Africa | nationalcaps2 = 24 | nationalgoals2 = 6 | club-update = 5 January 2026 | nationalteam-update = 5 January 2026 }} '''Evidence Makgopa''' (born 5 June 2000) is a South African professional soccer player who plays as a forward for South African Premiership side Orlando Pirates and the South Africa national team. He represented the South Africa under-23 team at the 2020 Summer Olympics.

==Early life== Makgopa was born in GaMampa, near Burgersfort in Limpopo. He attended Poo Secondary School.<ref name="auto">{{Cite news |last=Ndebele |first=Sihle |date=20 March 2020 |title=Teenage star Evidence Makgopa aims to stop Baroka's demise |work=The Sowetan |url=https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/sport/soccer/2020-03-20-teenage-star-evidence-makgopa-aims-to-stop-barokas-demise/ |access-date=28 October 2020}}</ref>

==Club career== Makgopa was scouted by Baroka in 2018, and was promoted to their first team from their development squad in January 2020.<ref name="auto" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=DStv Prem Team Profile: Baroka FC |url=https://supersport.com/football/dstv-premiership/news/201020_DStv_Prem_Team_Profile_Baroka_FC |access-date=28 October 2020 |website=supersport.com |publisher=MultiChoice}}</ref> He made his debut for the club on 23 February 2020 in a 2–2 Nedbank Cup draw with Hungry Lions; Makgopa scored their second goal as they advanced to the next round of the competition after winning the penalty shoot-out.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Madyira |first=Michael |date=23 February 2020 |title=Nedbank Cup: Baroka sneak through Hungry Lions after penalty shootout |url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/nedbank-cup-baroka-sneak-past-hungry-lions-after-penalty/1gaqcv4nnlsf81f7il9xlpnkh8 |access-date=28 October 2020 |website=Goal}}</ref> He made his league debut on 1 March 2020 in a 2–1 defeat to Bloemfontein Celtic,<ref name="soccerway">{{soccerway|evidence-makgopa/653906|accessdate=28 July 2021}}</ref> He scored his first league goals for the club the following week as he scored a brace in a 2–0 victory over Black Leopards.<ref name="soccerway" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Khoza |first=Neville |date=9 March 2020 |title=Dylan Kerr positive Baroka will stay up after victory |work=The Sowetan |url=https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/sport/soccer/2020-03-09-dylan-kerr-positive-baroka-will-stay-up-after-victory/ |access-date=28 October 2020}}</ref> He made 11 appearances for Baroka in all competitions during the 2019–20 season, scoring 5 goals.<ref name="soccerway" />

==International career== On 8 June 2021, Makgopa made his debut for South Africa as a substitute against Uganda and scored a brace in a 3–2 win.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/makgopa-shines-as-bafana-begin-new-era-with-victory-over-uganda|title=Makgopa shines as Bafana begin new era with victory over Uganda|first=Dean|last=Workman|date=10 June 2021|website=FourFourTwo|access-date=11 June 2021}}</ref> He represented the South Africa under-23 team at the 2020 Summer Olympics, and scored once in 3 appearances.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ditlhobolo |first=Austin |date=6 August 2021 |title=Makgopa: South Africa Olympic star comments amid Orlando Pirates links |url=https://www.goal.com/en-za/news/makgopa-orlando-pirates-links-south-africa-olympic-games/ztq74lxg5wr91w230hs08jwj4 |access-date=8 August 2021 |website=Goal}}</ref><ref name="soccerway" />

On 1 December 2025, Makgopa was called up to the South Africa squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cafonline.com/afcon2025/news/totalenergies-afcon-morocco-2025-fever-rises-as-broos-become-first-coach-to-unveil-final-squad/|title=TotalEnergies AFCON Morocco 2025 fever rises as Broos become first coach to unveil final squad|publisher=Confederation of African Football|date=1 December 2025|access-date=12 December 2025}}</ref>

==Career statistics==

===International===

:''Scores and results list South Africa's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Makgopa goal.''

{| class="wikitable sortable" |+ List of international goals scored by Evidence Makgopa<ref name="NFT">{{NFT player|82962|access-date=8 August 2021}}</ref> |- !scope="col"|No. !scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Venue !scope="col"|Opponent !scope="col"|Score !scope="col"|Result !scope="col"|Competition |- |style="text-align:center"|1 |rowspan="2"|{{dts|10 June 2021}} |rowspan="2"|Orlando Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa |rowspan="2"|{{fb|UGA}} |style="text-align:center"|1–1 |rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|3–2 |rowspan="2"|Friendly |- |style="text-align:center"|2 |style="text-align:center"|3–1 |- |style="text-align:center"|3 |{{dts|9 October 2021}} |Bahir Dar Stadium, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia |{{fb|ETH}} |style="text-align:center"|3–1 |style="text-align:center"|3–1 |2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |- |style="text-align:center"|4 |{{dts|30 January 2024}} |Laurent Pokou Stadium, San-Pédro, Ivory Coast |{{fb|MAR}} |style="text-align:center"|1–0 |style="text-align:center"|2–0 |2023 Africa Cup of Nations |- |style="text-align:center"|5 |{{dts|14 October 2025}} |Mbombela Stadium, Mbombela, South Africa |{{fb|RWA}} |style="text-align:center"|3–0 |style="text-align:center"|3–0 |2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |- |style="text-align:center"|6 |{{dts|4 January 2026}} |Al Medina Stadium, Rabat, Morocco |{{fb|CMR}} |style="text-align:center"|1–2 |style="text-align:center"|1–2 |2025 Africa Cup of Nations |}

== Honours == '''South Africa'''

* Africa Cup of Nations third place: 2023<ref>{{Cite web |last=Edwards |first=Piers |date=10 February 2024 |title=South Africa 0–0 DR Congo |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/68190249 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240212015031/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/68190249 |archive-date=12 February 2024 |access-date=12 February 2024 |website=BBC Sport |publisher=}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

{{Orlando Pirates F.C. squad}} {{Navboxes | title = South Africa squads | bg = #FFB81C | fg = #007749 | bordercolor = #007749 | list = {{South Africa men's football squad 2020 Summer Olympics}} {{South Africa squad 2023 Africa Cup of Nations}} {{South Africa squad 2025 Africa Cup of Nations}} {{South Africa squad 2026 FIFA World Cup}} }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Makgopa, Evidence}} Category:Living people Category:2000 births Category:South African men's soccer players Category:People from the Sekhukhune District Municipality Category:Soccer players from Limpopo Category:Men's association football forwards Category:Baroka F.C. players Category:Orlando Pirates F.C. players Category:South African Premier Division players Category:South Africa men's international soccer players Category:Footballers at the 2020 Summer Olympics Category:Olympic soccer players for South Africa Category:2023 Africa Cup of Nations players Category:2025 Africa Cup of Nations players Category:21st-century South African sportsmen Category:2026 FIFA World Cup players

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