South Africa's head coach Hugo Broos is lifted in the air by South African players after they won the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2024 third place play-off football match between South Africa and Democratic Republic of Congo at Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos celebrates with his players after the team won the bronze medal at this year's Africa Cup of Nations. Photo: Sia Kambou/AFP
Image: Sia Kambou/AFP
Bafana Bafana fans ate nice during 2024.
In what was the national team's best year in a long time, Hugo Broos' boys returned from the Africa Cup of Nations with a bronze medal, and had a solid qualification campaign for next year's edition of the tournament.
And on top of that, they continued to do well in World Cup qualifiers and are in a good place to reach world football's showpiece competition in the United States, Canada and Mexico in 2026. Broos cooked and Bafana fans ate.
What was pleasing from Bafana's good year was the number of players who put their hands up and took responsibility in moving the team forward.
There was captain Ronwen Williams, whose performances saw him nominated for a Yashin Trophy at the Ballon d'Or Awards. The highlight of his year was definitely his performances at AFCON, where in the quarter-finals, he saved four penalty kicks as they beat Cape Verde in a shootout.
His Mamelodi Sundowns teammates Teboho Mokoena and Themba Zwane also had a massive year. As a holding midfielder, Mokoena proved to be one of the best on the continent. His AFCON showing saw him linked with a number of clubs in Europe.
Zwane, on the other hand, has been like a bottle of finr wine. While on the wrong end of 35, Mshishi's performances for club and country belies his age, and when he was injured, his absence was noticeable.
And, there were other players who impressed. A year ago, not many outside of Cape Town would have been aware of what Rushwin Dortley was capable of. Since moving from Cape Town Spurs to Kaizer Chiefs, the 22-year-old has grown from strength to strength. He has since established himself in the national team, and continues to do well for Amakhosi.
Right now, Relebohile Mofokeng's name is one that's on everyone's lips in South Africa. The 20-year-old shows up week after week and impresses for Orlando Pirates. He's been so good that he's now being looked at by Spanish giants, Barcelona. With the limited opportunities in the national team, he has shown glimpses of what he is capable of.
At just 23 years old, Polokwane City's Oswin Appolis has become a regular starter for the national team. His trickery and unpredictability out wide kept opposition defenders constantly on their toes. He should grow into a very valuable player in the near future.
Pirates' talented Thalente Mbatha is another who took his chances with both hands. His two late goals against Uganda and South Sudan will be stay in the minds of Bafana Bafana fans for a long time to come.
After a successful 2024, Broos and his team have to target improvement in 2025.
After a great AFCON this year where they won the bronze medal, in 2025, they have to target going at least one step further. AFCON success is reaching the competition's decider. Considering how well the team did this year, they are clearly capable.
The team will also have to secure their spot in the World Cup. Failure to do so after doing so well in the qualifying campaign will tarnish Broos' legacy. South Africa are second in Group C of qualifiers, level on points with Rwanda and Benin.
Can Bafana qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 2002? Yes. And what is positive about it is that their fate is still in their own hands.
IOL Sport