I don’t think we know what we have done! Legendary Sundowns keeper on Bafana’s WC qualification

Bafana Bafana are among the nine already qualified teams that will represent Africa in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

It is the first time South Africa have qualified for the prestigious global competition after initially doing so in 2002. In 2010, they competed by virtue of being the hosts, explaining why the recent achievement was vigorously celebrated by the entire nation.

Mzansi had to overcome the pressure of being deducted three points for fielding the suspended Teboho Mokoena, and the goalless draw with Zimbabwe on matchday nine, coupled with Nigeria and Benin wins.

However, they managed to get a vital 3-0 win over Rwanda to take their tally to 18, one more than second-placed Super Eagles, who beat the Cheetahs 4-0.

This is history

“It’s amazing, I’m lost for words, I don’t know what to say; I don’t think we, as players, realise what we’ve done here. This is history, and I’m so proud to be leading this team,” Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams told the media.

“What we’ve done here is amazing, and as time goes by, it will probably sink in. I’m so proud of the team and the players and the coach and the technical team, especially. It’s been an amazing journey, lots of good and bad moments. We had moments where we had to stick together as a team.

“That’s what I asked for in the last few days, I said in good moments, it’s easy to be a team, but in bad moments, that’s when we have to dig deep and draw strength from one another, that’s what we did. So, kudos to the players and the team,” Williams concluded. 

South Africa will now start preparations for the 2025 AFCON to be played in Morocco from December.