Playing in a World Cup for the first time since they hosted it in 2010, the team shocked South Korea 1-0 on Wednesday to secure progression, which had seemed unlikely after they lost their opening group stage match 2-0 to co-hosts Mexico.
Africa at the World Cup: Bafana make history, Morocco through
As the match ended at around 5:00 am local time, scores of people headed out into the streets – many in their pyjamas – to chant, dance and blow long plastic vuvuzela horns.
Soweto resident Nandi Ntini was woken up by vuvuzelas and fireworks.
“There were fireworks outside and the celebration went on for more than an hour after the game,” she said.
“We are proudly South African, and this is our Cup. We have started it and we will finish it,” said a fan in Johannesburg’s Soweto area in a video posted online by the national broadcaster SABC.
“We love and support Bafana Bafana,” said another fan, wearing a scarf in the colours of the South African flag around his neck as crowds of people celebrated in the street behind him.
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Other social media posts showed women dancing in their dressing gowns in a Soweto street as people sang “Shosholoza”, a Zulu chant meaning “go forward” that South Africans often sing at sporting events.
President Cyril Ramaphosa praised the squad’s “inspired team performance” in a post on social media.
“We remain united and hopeful under our banner that declares: ’One Nation. One dream. One goal’,” he said.
Early dawn in South Africa and the streets are already alive.
History made, emotions everywhere & this is exactly why football means so much. #WorldCupwithMicky#FIFAWorldCup#BafanaBafana pic.twitter.com/ARtuvBel94
— Micky Jnr (@MickyJnr__) June 25, 2026
–AFP
Photo: Luke Hales/Getty Images
