South Africa national soccer team facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
South Africa

Nickname(s)	Bafana Bafana
Association	South African Football Association (SAFA)
Confederation	CAF (Africa)
Sub-confederation	COSAFA (Southern Africa)
Head coach	Hugo Broos
Captain	Ronwen Williams
Most caps	Aaron Mokoena (107)
Top scorer	Benni McCarthy (31)
Home stadium	Various
FIFA code	RSA
First colours Second colours Third colours
FIFA ranking
Current	74 2 (7 February 2019)
Highest	16 (August 1996)
Lowest	124 (December 1992)
Elo ranking
Current	71 1 (3 March 2019)
Highest	21 (9) (September 1996 (October 1955))
Lowest	94 (May 2006)
First international
Argentina 0–1 South Africa  (Buenos Aires, Argentina; 9 July 1906)
Biggest win
Australia 0–8 South Africa  (Adelaide, Australia; 17 September 1955)
Biggest defeat
South Africa 1–9 England  (Cape Town, South Africa; 17 July 1920)
World Cup
Appearances	3 (first in 1998)
Best result	Group Stage (1998, 2002, 2010)
Africa Cup of Nations
Appearances	11 (first in 1996)
Best result	Champions (1996)
CONCACAF Gold Cup
Appearances	1 (first in 2005)
Best result	Quarter-finals (2005)
African Nations Championship
Appearances	2 (first in 2011)
Best result	Quarter-finals (2011)
Medal record CAF Africa Cup of Nations Gold 1996 South Africa Team Silver 1998 Burkina Faso Team Bronze 2000 Nigeria and Ghana Team Bronze 2023 Ivory Coast Team COSAFA Cup Gold 2002 Southern Africa Gold 2007 Southern Africa Gold 2008 South Africa Gold 2016 Namibia Team Gold 2021 South Africa Bronze 2013 Zambia Team
Website	safa.net

The South Africa men's national soccer team, also known as Bafana Bafana (which means "The Boys" in Zulu), plays for South Africa in international soccer games. The team is managed by the South African Football Association (SAFA).

Their main home stadium is FNB Stadium in Johannesburg. The team is a member of both FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF). They are one of the most popular national teams in Africa. Their traditional uniform colours are yellow and green.

South Africa played its first match in 1906. They returned to international soccer in 1992. This was after being banned by FIFA for 16 years due to the country's apartheid system. South Africa has played in the FIFA World Cup three times: in 1998, 2002, and 2010. In 2010, they hosted the tournament, becoming the first African nation to do so. Even though they beat France 2–1 in their last group game, they did not make it past the first round. This made them the first host nation to exit in the group stage. As of February 2024, the team is ranked 10th in Africa and 58th in the world by FIFA.

Their biggest success was in 1996. They hosted and won the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). They also reached the final in 1998 but lost to Egypt.

Some famous players from Bafana Bafana include Benni McCarthy. He is the team's top scorer with 31 goals. Aaron Mokoena has played the most games, with 107 appearances. Other important players are Lucas Radebe, Doctor Khumalo, and Itumeleng Khune.

Team History: From Ban to Glory

Early Days of South African Soccer

Football came to South Africa in the late 1800s with British soldiers. For a long time, soccer in South Africa was affected by racial segregation. Different football groups were formed for different racial groups. For example, there was an all-white Football Association of South Africa (FASA) and separate groups for Indian, Bantu, and Black South Africans.

The South African team that toured South America in 1906.

In 1906, an all-white South African team toured South America. They played 12 friendly matches, winning 11 of them. They scored 60 goals and only let in 7. The only team that beat them was the Argentine team Alumni.

South Africa was one of four African nations that helped create the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in 1956. However, South Africa's laws did not allow mixed-race teams to play together. Because of this, they could not send a mixed team to the 1957 African Cup of Nations. They were disqualified from the competition.

In 1958, South Africa was officially kicked out of CAF. They were later suspended from FIFA in 1961 because of their racial segregation policies. In 1976, after the Soweto uprising, they were formally expelled from FIFA.

Return to International Soccer (1992-1994)

In 1991, as the apartheid system ended, a new multi-racial South African Football Association was formed. This allowed South Africa to rejoin FIFA. On 7 July 1992, the South African national team played its first game after being isolated for almost 20 years. They beat Cameroon 1–0 in Durban.

The team tried to qualify for the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations and the 1994 FIFA World Cup. They did not succeed in qualifying for either tournament.

Rising Success (1996-1998)

Just five years after rejoining international soccer, South Africa achieved its greatest success. In 1996, they hosted and won the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations. This amazing win helped them reach their highest-ever FIFA ranking of 16th in the world.

After this success, they finished second in the 1998 Africa Cup of Nations. They also qualified for their first-ever FIFA World Cup in France in 1998. They lost 3–0 to hosts France but managed to draw 1–1 with Denmark and 2–2 with Saudi Arabia. They exited the tournament in the first round.

Challenges and World Cup Hosting (2000-2010)

After their strong performances in 1996 and 1998, South Africa was seen as a rising power in African soccer. They finished third in the 2000 Africa Cup of Nations.

South Africa easily qualified for the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea/Japan. They were in a tough group with Spain, Paraguay, and Slovenia. They drew 2–2 with Paraguay and won their first-ever World Cup game, beating Slovenia 1–0. In their final group game, they lost a close match 3–2 to Spain. They ended up tied on points with Paraguay but were eliminated because Paraguay had scored more goals. This was a heartbreaking exit for the team.

This period (1996–2002) saw many talented South African players. These included top scorers Benni McCarthy and Shaun Bartlett, strong defenders Lucas Radebe and Neil Tovey, and creative midfielders John Moshoeu and Doctor Khumalo.

After 2002, the team struggled. They failed to qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup and performed poorly in the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations and 2006 Africa Cup of Nations.

South Africa vs Uruguay at the 2010 FIFA World Cup

In 2010, South Africa hosted the FIFA World Cup, becoming the first African country to do so. This was a huge moment for the nation. They drew 1–1 with Mexico in the opening game, with a fantastic goal from Siphiwe Tshabalala. However, they lost 3–0 to Uruguay. In their final group game, they beat former world champions France 2–1. Despite this historic win, they were eliminated from the tournament in the group stage due to goal difference. This made them the first host nation to not advance past the first round.

Recent Years and Resurgence (2012-Present)

After 2010, South Africa continued to face challenges. They missed out on the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations due to a misunderstanding of the rules. They also struggled in World Cup qualifiers.

In 2013, South Africa hosted the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. They reached the quarter-finals but lost to Mali in a penalty shootout.

The team failed to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.

Since 2017, South African soccer has been working to improve. Younger teams (U-17, U-20, U-23) have had some success in African and world tournaments.

South Africa qualified for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. They surprised many by beating host nation Egypt (who had Mohamed Salah) 1–0 in the Round of 16. They then lost to Nigeria in the quarter-finals, but this was seen as their best performance in the 2010s.

After failing to qualify for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, Hugo Broos became the new coach. He brought in many young players, and Ronwen Williams became the captain.

In 2024, Bafana Bafana showed a strong return at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (played in January 2024). Despite losing to Mali, they beat Namibia 4–0 and drew with Tunisia to reach the knockout stage. They then caused a big upset by beating strong favourites Morocco 2–0. In the quarter-finals, they drew 0–0 with Cape Verde and won 2–1 on penalties, thanks to amazing saves from goalkeeper Ronwen Williams. They lost to Nigeria in the semi-finals on penalties but won the third-place play-off against DR Congo. This earned them a bronze medal, their best AFCON result since 2000. This showed that Bafana Bafana is becoming a strong team in Africa again.

Team Identity

Nickname: Bafana Bafana

The nickname "Bafana Bafana" was given to the team by their fans. It comes from the Nguni language and means "the boys, the boys." It can also mean "Go boys! Go boys!" or "all of the boys," showing togetherness.

The name became popular in July 1992 when fans cheered "Bafana Bafana" after South Africa beat Cameroon. Journalists then started using the name in newspapers. For a while, there were legal issues over who owned the trademark for the name. In 2011, the South African Football Association (SAFA) paid R5 million to gain full rights to the name.

Home Stadiums

First game of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, South Africa vs Mexico at Soccer City.

The South Africa national soccer team does not have just one home stadium. They play their matches at different stadiums across the country.

The biggest stadium they use is the 94,700-seat Soccer City in Soweto, near Johannesburg. Other stadiums often used include Atteridgeville Super Stadium (near Pretoria), Royal Bafokeng Stadium (near Rustenburg), Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein, and Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.

Kits and Crest

Over the years, Bafana Bafana has used different logos on their jerseys. They often have two main logos.

• The Protea emblem, a national symbol of South Africa, is usually on the right side of the jersey.
• The South African Football Association (SAFA) badge is on the left side. It often has a star above it to celebrate their win in the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations.

A less common logo, introduced about ten years ago, shows two stars as footballers on the field.

Kit Sponsors

When the team returned to international soccer in 1992, their kits were made by the Italian company Kappa. After the 1998 World Cup, the German company Adidas supplied their kits until 2010.

In 2011, Puma became the new sponsor. From 2014 to 2020, the American company Nike provided the kits. Since June 2020, the French company Le Coq Sportif has been the official kit provider.

The team's main sponsor is Castle Lager. Other sponsors include Energade and Tsogo Sun Hotels. In 2022, Banxso became their official online trading partner.

Kit provider	Period
Kappa	1992–1997
Adidas	1998–2010
Puma	2011–2013
Nike	2014–2020
Le Coq Sportif	2020–present

Media Coverage

The South African Football Association (SAFA) owns the rights to national team matches played in South Africa. The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) usually broadcasts these matches. For games played outside the country, the SABC has to get the rights to show them.

Major tournaments like the FIFA World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations have separate broadcast rights. SuperSport buys the pay TV rights, while the SABC usually gets the free-to-air rights.

Coaching Staff

Position	Staff
Technical Director	Walter Steenbok
Team Manager	Vincent Tseka
Head Coach	Hugo Broos
Assistant Coach	Helman Mkhalele
Goalkeeper Coach	Grant Johnson
Team Organiser	David Molwantwa

Coaching History

Many coaches have led the Bafana Bafana team over the years. Some notable coaches include Clive Barker, who led the team to their 1996 Africa Cup of Nations victory. Carlos Alberto Parreira, a World Cup winner with Brazil, also coached the team when they hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The current head coach is Hugo Broos from Belgium.

Players

Current Squad

Here are the players who were called up for the recent 2025 AFCON qualification matches in October 2024.

Caps (games played) and goals are correct as of 10 September 2024, after the match against South Sudan.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Ronwen Williams (captain)	(1992-01-21) 21 January 1992 (age 33)	47	0	Mamelodi Sundowns
13	1GK	Ricardo Goss	(1994-04-02) 2 April 1994 (age 31)	5	0	SuperSport United
	1GK	Sipho Chaine	(1996-12-14) 14 December 1996 (age 28)	1	0	Orlando Pirates
6	2DF	Aubrey Modiba	(1995-07-22) 22 July 1995 (age 29)	36	3	Mamelodi Sundowns
2	2DF	Nyiko Mobbie	(1994-09-11) 11 September 1994 (age 30)	27	0	Sekhukhune United
20	2DF	Khuliso Mudau	(1995-04-26) 26 April 1995 (age 30)	19	1	Mamelodi Sundowns
24	2DF	Grant Kekana	(1992-10-31) 31 October 1992 (age 32)	15	0	Mamelodi Sundowns
18	2DF	Nkosinathi Sibisi	(1995-09-22) 22 September 1995 (age 29)	12	0	Orlando Pirates
15	2DF	Rushwin Dortley	(2002-05-02) 2 May 2002 (age 23)	5	1	Cape Town Spurs
	2DF	Fawaaz Basadien	(1996-12-23) 23 December 1996 (age 28)	1	0	Stellenbosch
	2DF	Thabiso Sesane	(2000-05-30) 30 May 2000 (age 25)	0	0	Orlando Pirates
4	3MF	Teboho Mokoena	(1997-01-24) 24 January 1997 (age 28)	41	6	Mamelodi Sundowns
	3MF	Jayden Adams	(2001-05-05) 5 May 2001 (age 24)	6	0	Stellenbosch
	3MF	Luke Le Roux	(2000-03-10) 10 March 2000 (age 25)	5	0	IFK Värnamo
16	3MF	Thalente Mbatha	(2000-03-06) 6 March 2000 (age 25)	2	2	Orlando Pirates
11	4FW	Themba Zwane	(1989-08-03) 3 August 1989 (age 35)	49	12	Mamelodi Sundowns
23	4FW	Thapelo Morena	(1993-08-06) 6 August 1993 (age 31)	31	2	Mamelodi Sundowns
9	4FW	Lyle Foster	(2000-05-09) 9 May 2000 (age 25)	17	5	Burnley
5	4FW	Iqraam Rayners	(1995-12-19) 19 December 1995 (age 29)	11	3	Stellenbosch
7	4FW	Oswin Appollis	(2001-08-25) 25 August 2001 (age 23)	8	2	Polokwane City
17	4FW	Elias Mokwana	(1999-09-08) 8 September 1999 (age 25)	6	1	Espérance de Tunis
10	4FW	Relebohile Mofokeng	(2004-10-23) 23 October 2004 (age 20)	3	0	Orlando Pirates
12	4FW	Patrick Maswanganyi	(1998-04-04) 4 April 1998 (age 27)	1	0	Orlando Pirates

Past Squads

Player Records

Here are some of the players who have played the most games and scored the most goals for Bafana Bafana.

Players in bold are still active with South Africa.

Most Appearances

Top Goalscorers

Benni McCarthy is South Africa's top scorer with 31 goals.

Tournament Performance

FIFA World Cup History

South Africa has played in the FIFA World Cup three times but has never made it past the first round.

• 1998 (France): Their first World Cup. They finished third in their group after drawing with Denmark and Saudi Arabia, and losing to France.
• 2002 (Korea/Japan): They won their first World Cup match against Slovenia (1–0) and drew with Paraguay. They were eliminated on goal difference, even though they had the same points as Paraguay.
• 2010 (South Africa): As hosts, they drew with Mexico, lost to Uruguay, and beat France. They were the first host nation to be eliminated in the group stage.

FIFA Confederations Cup History

South Africa has played in the FIFA Confederations Cup twice.

• 1997 (Saudi Arabia): They finished 8th in the tournament.
• 2009 (South Africa): As hosts, they reached the semi-finals and finished in fourth place. This was their best performance in this tournament.

Africa Cup of Nations History

South Africa has a strong history in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

• 1996 (South Africa): They hosted and won the tournament, which is their biggest achievement.
• 1998 (Burkina Faso): They reached the final again but finished as runners-up.
• 2000 (Ghana/Nigeria): They finished in third place.
• 2023 (Ivory Coast): They also finished in third place, showing a strong return to form.

They have qualified for AFCON 11 times in total.

African Nations Championship

South Africa has participated in the African Nations Championship (CHAN) twice.

• 2011 (Sudan): They reached the quarter-finals.
• 2014 (South Africa): As hosts, they were eliminated in the group stage.

Honours and Awards

Major Competitions

Intercontinental

• Afro-Asian Cup of Nations
  • Champions (1): 1997

Continental

• CAF African Cup of Nations
  • Champions (1): 1996
  • Runners-up (1): 1998
  • Third place (2): 2000, 2023

Regional Competitions

• COSAFA Cup
  • Champions (5): 2002, 2007, 2008, 2016, 2021
  • Third place (4): 2000, 2005, 2009, 2013

Friendly Tournaments

• Four Nations Tournament
  • Champions (1): 2018

Awards

• FIFA Fair Play Award (1) 2023
• FIFA Best Mover of the Year
  • Winner (1): 1996

1. In 2008 and 2009, SAFA sent a Development XI team to the COSAFA Cup. These matches thus do not count towards the senior national team's records.

See also

In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Sudáfrica para niños