South Africa’s relationship with football runs deep. Known as Bafana Bafana – the national team has been a source of immense national pride since the country’s return to international football following the end of apartheid in 1992.
Under Belgian coach Hugo Broos, who took charge in 2021, Bafana have been rebuilt from the ground up – finishing third at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and qualifying for the World Cup for the first time in more than 15 years.
How they got there
Bafana sealed their place with a commanding 3-0 win over Rwanda, topping Group C ahead of Nigeria in one of Africa’s tightest qualifying battles.
It was South Africa’s first merit qualification since 2002 – a remarkable achievement given the inconsistency that had plagued the national team for much of the intervening two decades.
Best ever World Cup finish
South Africa have appeared at three previous World Cups – in 1998, 2002 and 2010 – and have never advanced beyond the group stage. Their most agonising exit came in 2002 when they were eliminated on goal difference after a 2-2 draw with Paraguay and a win over Slovenia left them narrowly short of the knockout rounds.
In 2010 they became the first host nation in World Cup history to exit in the group stage – despite drawing 1-1 with Mexico and beating France 2-1 in their final group game.
Iconic moments
No moment in South African football history matches Siphiwe Tshabalala’s thunderous left-footed strike against Mexico in the opening game of the 2010 World Cup at Soccer City.
The goal – the first of the entire tournament – sent supporters and an entire nation into raptures and remains the most celebrated moment in Bafana Bafana history.
The sound of vuvuzelas on that evening echoed around the world and defined a tournament that brought the globe together on African soil for the first time.
Players to watch
Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns) – South Africa’s captain and one of the best goalkeepers in Africa. Williams saved four penalties in a single AFCON shootout in 2023 and was outstanding in Sundowns’ CAF Champions League winning campaign this season.
Relebohile Mofokeng (Orlando Pirates) – The most exciting talent in the squad. The 21-year-old winger contributed 10 goals and 8 assists in Pirates’ Betway Premiership title-winning season and arrives at the World Cup with genuine momentum and fearlessness.
Lyle Foster (Burnley) – The only player in the squad currently at a top-five European league club. A powerful, mobile striker with Premier League experience who gives Bafana a different dimension up front.
Teboho Mokoena (Mamelodi Sundowns) – The engine of the team. Mokoena scored the decisive goal in the CAF Champions League final second leg in Rabat and brings set-piece quality, technical ability and leadership to the midfield.
Fixtures
11 Jun: Mexico vs South Africa – Estadio Azteca, Mexico City – 22:00 SAST
18 Jun: Czech Republic vs South Africa – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta – 19:00 SAST
24 Jun: South Africa vs South Korea – Estadio BBVA, Guadalupe – 04:00 SAST
Photo: Zamani Makautsi/Gallo Images
