From boys to men: Bafana Bafana win back local fans with strong performances
From a goalkeeper and captain who was nominated for a FIFA award to claiming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) bronze and then qualifying for the following edition, South Africa put the smiles back on people’s faces.
Bafana Bafana players celebrate a goal in their match against South Sudan at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town on 19 November 2024. Picture: @GovernmentZA/X
JOHANNESBURG - Bafana Bafana finally won back local fans in 2024 and graduated from boys to men.
From a goalkeeper and captain who was nominated for a FIFA award to claiming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) bronze and then qualifying for the following edition, South Africa put the smiles back on people’s faces.
Coming into AFCON 2023, no one gave Bafana Bafana a chance, especially with star strikers Lyle Foster and Lebo Mothiba missing the tournament due to respective mental health challenges and injury.
However, there was no need to worry with captain and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams in goal, as the team kept three clean sheets in the group stages before he saved three penalties in the knockout win over Cape Verde.
That success would see him subsequently nominated for the Puskas Award at the Ballon d’Or.
Bafana Bafana would finish the tournament in third place, securing their best AFCON performance since 2000.
Coach Hugo Broos would build on that success by qualifying for AFCON 2025, as he became the first coach in 16 years to qualify the team for back-to-back finals.
Next on the cards is FIFA World Cup qualification, with Bafana Bafana currently second in group C.
They must finish top of the group to stand any chance of playing a first tournament since they hosted the showpiece in 2010.