South Africans woke up to some good news on Wednesday morning, celebrating Bafana Bafana’s qualification for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Tuesday night’s 2-1 win over Liberia secured Bafana a place in the tournament in 2024 in Ivory Coast, taking place between January and February.
This would be South Africa’s first continental competition appearance since 2019. The country’s football fans have been eagerly waiting for them to qualify for another tournament, and the news of the team’s qualification has brought hope and joy to many.
Coming into their third group game, the country was under pressure, having relinquished a 2-goal lead to draw with Liberia in their second group encounter on Friday night. The team went into the match with a lot to prove and they did not disappoint.
Bafana got off to a good start Tuesday night in Monrovia as Zakhele Lepasa opened the scoring. But that was short-lived, as William Jebor equalized to send the teams into the halftime break level at 1-1.
Despite the setback, the team remained focused and determined to secure the win they needed to qualify for the tournament. South Africa regained the lead through Mihlali Mayambela and held on to earn their maiden win of the qualifiers.
The victory secured the national team a spot in 2024’s AFCON finals with a game to spare. Bafana coach Hugo Broos achieved the first two mandates given to him by the South African Football Association (Safa) to qualify for this AFCON and then the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The win is significant for South African football, as it shows that the team is capable of competing at the highest level. The team’s impressive performance in the qualifiers is a testament to their resilience and determination.
South African football fans can now look forward to seeing their team compete against some of the best teams in Africa in the 2023 AFCON tournament. This will be a chance for the team to showcase their talent and make their country proud.
Bafana Bafana’s triumph over Liberia is a significant milestone for South African football. The team’s qualification for the 2023 AFCON tournament is a cause for celebration and a sign of hope for the future of the sport in the country. South Africans can now look forward to cheering on their team as they compete against some of the best teams in the continent.