South Africa aim to exorcise 2010 World Cup ghosts

South Africa have made history by reaching the knockout stage of the World Cup for the first time, yet arguably it is a feat that should have happened sooner given the country staged the tournament in 2010. When Siphiwe Tshabalala put Bafana Bafana ahead in the opening game against Mexico 16 years ago, his strike was famously lauded as a "goal for all of Africa" by one TV commentator. It proved to be a false dawn, with the team eliminated on goal difference despite that 1-1 draw and beating France in their final outing. They became the first World Cup hosts to fail to make it out of their group, and a glorious chance was passed up.

Stagnation after 2010

But the failure to capitalise on hosting those finals—the first held in Africa—went further, with Cape Town-based sports journalist Mark Gleeson describing domestic football as "a little bit dormant" since 2010. "There was much excitement in the build-up to, and obviously around, 2010, but then it all went a little bit dead, combined with an economic downturn," he told the BBC World Service. "There are not many sponsors in the domestic game. There's not a lot of money floating around."

South Africa finally returned to the World Cup this year, with the national side having also missed out on the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in 2012, 2017 and 2021 during that lean period. However, both the domestic scene and Bafana Bafana have shown signs of life in recent years. Mamelodi Sundowns became African club champions in 2016 and claimed their second continental crown in May after finishing as runners-up last year.

Revival under Hugo Broos

"The national team qualifying for the World Cup [and] Sundowns winning the African Champions League has been a huge boost for the country," added Gleeson. "Hopefully this is the start of a new era for South Africa, maybe 16 years too late. This is how things should have been in 2010."

After the failure to reach Afcon 2021, South Africa sacked Molefi Ntseki as head coach and turned to Hugo Broos, who had led Cameroon to the continental title in 2017. The 74-year-old, a former defender who played at the 1986 World Cup for Belgium, has rebuilt the squad and guided Bafana Bafana to a third-placed finish at Afcon 2023 before securing qualification for the 2026 World Cup ahead of Nigeria.

Despite those achievements, he was criticised for his conservative tactical approach in their opener against Mexico—a repeat of the 2010 opening fixture—which they lost 2-0 after having two men sent off. After coming from behind to draw with Czech Republic and then defeating South Korea to claim second spot in Group A, Broos said his team had shut up the "big mouths" who had called for changes.

Captain's praise

"He deserves a statue," added captain and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams after their passage to the last 32 was sealed. "He deserves the highest recognition for the belief he has shown in this team. When our backs are against the wall [and] people don't believe in us, he is always there."

Former national team captain Dean Furman has backed Broos' decision to remodel the squad, even though he was one of the players discarded by the Belgian after his appointment. "The first thing he did was get rid of the older players of the group and develop a younger team," the former Rangers and Oldham Athletic midfielder told BBC Sport Africa. "I never got the chance to work with him, disappointingly. But in hindsight, it was the best decision. What he's done with the team, to go third place in the Afcon, qualify for the World Cup [and] get to the knockouts, I think he's done a phenomenal job."

A team the continent 'can be proud of'

This is the first time Bafana Bafana have progressed beyond the World Cup group stage, having also suffered early exits in 1998 and 2002. Yet the achievement has arrived at a difficult moment for the country.