Bafana Bafana’s qualification for the 2026 World Cup finals was not an overnight success story, but rather a tale of steady progression and the implementation of a winning mindset among the players.
A rampant SA team thrashed Rwanda 3-0 in their final qualification match played at the Mbombela Stadium last week to book their ticket to the global showpiece.
What had promised to be a nervy night, with several qualification permutations on the table, turned into a walk in the park for a Bafana side growing in confidence every time they take to the field.
The signs that Bafana were starting to display their full potential were evident when they finished third at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), winning the bronze medal after beating DR Congo on penalties.
The man SA can thank for their change in fortunes is veteran coach Hugo Broos, who has been the mastermind behind transforming Bafana’s fortunes.
Though not all his selections met with universal approval, Broos has been building a squad capable of performing in the pressure cooker environment of international football.
After securing World Cup qualification, Bafana will play a series of international friendly matches to prepare for December’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Broos said that during the World Cup qualification rounds he had selected quality players with the right mentality to perform in the international arena.
Bafana’s mentor said it had been crucial during the past three years to stick to a long-term plan and ensure players always did what he asked them to do on the big stage.
The biggest-ever World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the US will feature a brand-new format involving 16 more nations than competed in the previous tournament.
The event will be the first to feature 48 teams, and the previous 32-team eight-group format has been replaced by 12 groups of four.
The top two teams in each group, plus the eight best third-placed teams, will advance to the round of 32.
Long may the sun shine over Bafana after the dark days when the team endured ridicule because of their lack of success.
The Herald
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