Interesting facts about Bafana Bafana

The rainbow nation has always shared the ‘love of the game’ especially when it comes to soccer. The sport has found a place in the hearts of many South Africans – as it became the first sport to unite the nation after the apartheid regime. Since 1991, the national team Bafana Bafana took the nation to the World Cup not once but thrice, as well as won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1996.

With that being said… here are some of our interesting facts about our boys in green and gold:
 

Winners of the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations

Image Source: kickoff.com

The national team looks back with pride when it comes to one particular tournament in 1996. A determined Bafana squad managed to become champions of Africa by defeating Tunisia 2-0 in the final at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg. Nelson Mandela was present on the day and wore a Bafana shirt in celebration of their victory when handing the trophy to captain Neil Tovey.

Two years later, Bafana Bafana had another great year by placing second in the Africa Cup of nations.
 

The first goal of the 2010 World Cup

Image Source: enca.com

Laduma! Most South Africans won’t forget that moment when Bafana Bafana’s Siphiwe Tshabalala scored the first goal in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, sending the country into a frenzy. It was Tshabalala’s 50th cap for South Africa, and the team went on to finish the match in a 1-1 draw against Mexico. The goal was later nominated for Goal of the Year by FIFA.
 

Benni McCarthy is Bafana’s all-time top scorer

Image Source: kickoff.com

Striker Benni McCarthy remains the national team’s all-time top goalscorer thanks to the 32 goals he had to his name before retiring from international football. He represented Bafana from 1997 until 2012, amassing 80 caps during that time and scoring a number of excellent goals amongst the 32.
 

“Bafana Bafana” translates to “Go Boys”!

“Bafana Bafana” was the nickname given to the South African national team by its fans. The Zulu phrase translates literally to, “the boys, the boys,” but has been taken to mean, “Go boys! Go, boys!” The phrase has also been taken to mean “all of the boys,” incorporating the South African concept of ubuntu, or togetherness.



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Highest FIFA ranking was 16

In August 1996 the South African national team reached their highest ever placing in the FIFA rankings, with an impressive 16th place amongst the nations of the world. This followed an excellent period for Bafana Bafana, in which they won the African Cup of Nations tournament at home and continued to boost their profile in world football.
 

Bafana is home to a variety of venues

Rather than focus on one major stadium, the South African national team uses a variety of stadiums throughout the country to host its home matches. The largest venue is Soccer City in Soweto, known as FNB Stadium due to naming rights, but Pretoria’s Atteridgeville Super Stadium, Rustenburg’s Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Bloemfontein’s Free State Stadium, Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium and the Cape Town Stadium are also commonly used, as well as several others.
 

The team has had 16 coaches in 22 years

Image Source: soccerladuma.co.za

South Africa’s national team has had up 16 different coaches in its 22-year history. Clive Barker is the longest-serving and most successful coach, serving until 1997, and netting the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations championship trophy.
 

World Cup 1998

Bafana continued to excel on the international stage when, in 1997, the team qualified for the World Cup finals for the first time.

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