The South Africa national soccer team, known as Bafana Bafana (The Boys in Zulu), represents South Africa in men's international soccer. The South African Football Association, the governing body for soccer in South Africa, runs the team. Bafana Bafana plays at various stadiums around the country.
Football first arrived in South Africa through colonialism in the late nineteenth century, as the game was popular among British soldiers. From the earliest days of the sport in South Africa until the end of apartheid, organised soccer was affected by the country's system of racial segregation.
Early Years and International Isolation
The South African team toured South America in 1906. In 1903, the SAFA re-affiliated with the English Football Association after the Second Boer War. South Africa played a total of 12 matches in South America, winning 11 with 60 goals scored and only 7 conceded. The players were exclusively white, civil servants, government employees, bankers and civil engineers.
South Africa was one of four African nations to attend FIFA's 1953 congress, demanding and winning representation on the FIFA executive committee. In 1956, the four nations (South Africa, Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan) founded the Confederation of African Football. However, South Africa's constitution prohibited racially mixed teams from competitive sport, leading to their expulsion from CAF in 1958.
The all-white FASA were admitted to FIFA in the same year, but in August 1960 it was given an ultimatum of one year to fall in line with the non-discriminatory regulations of FIFA. On 26 September 1961 at the annual FIFA conference, the South African association was formally suspended from FIFA.
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Sir Stanley Rous, president of The Football Association of England, resisted attempts to expel South Africa from FIFA, believing that sport should not embroil itself in political matters. The next annual conference of FIFA in October 1964 took place in Tokyo and was attended by a larger contingent of representatives from African and Asian associations and here the suspension of South Africa's membership was re-imposed.
Return to the World Stage
Having played their first match in 1906, South Africa returned to the world stage in 1992, after sixteen years of being banned from FIFA, and forty years of effective suspension due to the apartheid system. The team entered the 1994 Cup of Nations qualifiers and was placed in Group 5, along with Mauritius, Zambia and Zimbabwe. They won one game, away to Mauritius, and drew with Mauritius and Zimbabwe at home. For the 1994 FIFA World Cup qualifiers South Africa was placed in Group D, along with Congo, Libya and Nigeria. Libya withdrew from the qualifiers.
The shock firing of AFCON-winning coach Clive Barker did little to slow momentum as they followed their 1996 success with a second-place finish at the 1998 Africa Cup of Nations behind Egypt under Jomo Sono. The team had earned their first appearance at the FIFA World Cup, qualifying for France '98.
Under newly hired coach Trott Moloto, South Africa started the decade off strongly, finishing third in the 2000 Africa Cup of Nations; despite this, another coaching change was made. Portuguese Carlos Queiroz was hired as the man to take South Africa to the 2002 FIFA World Cup. South Africa qualified for the 2002 AFCON and were eliminated in the quarter-finals against hosts Mali. Former legend Jomo Sono was brought back in a caretaker capacity to lead South Africa in Korea/Japan.
Placed in Group B along with Spain, Paraguay and debutants Slovenia, South Africa earned a 2-2 draw against Paraguay in their opening game with a last-gasp penalty from Quinton Fortune and followed that up with their first-ever victory at the finals with a 1-0 win over Slovenia. South Africa headed into their final game against Spain second in the group and three points clear of Paraguay and Slovenia. South Africa would go through 4 head coaches between the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cups.
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Former World Cup winner and Brazil national team coach Carlos Alberto Parreira was approached for the job, and he accepted. He signed a R100 million contract covering four years. He resigned as coach in April 2008 due to family reasons. The World Cup hosts failed to qualify for the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, and Parreira would return in time for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup - also hosted by South Africa.
As World Cup hosts, South Africa was placed in Group A, along with Mexico, Uruguay and 2006 runners-up France. South Africa played the first game, which opened the World Cup 2010 tournament with a 1-1 draw against Mexico after taking the lead through a long-range Siphiwe Tshabalala strike. A heavy 3-0 defeat in the second group game against Uruguay and a Mexican win over France left South Africa with a mountain to climb in order to progress beyond the group stage.
Following the conclusion of the World Cup and the expiration of his contract, Carlos Alberto Parreira announced his retirement from coaching. South Africa failed to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations finals after the rules were misread.
South Africa continued to disappoint into 2012, opening the year with a lacklustre 0-0 draw away to 2012 Africa Cup of Nations co-hosts Equatorial Guinea. The draw increased South Africa's streak to 7 games without a win. In his first game in charge as interim head coach, Komphela oversaw yet another uninspired performance in South Africa's second World Cup qualifier against Botswana as they drew yet again, extending their winless run to 8 games.
Following the crisis in Libya throughout 2011, CAF made the decision to move the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations from Libya - who were the original hosts - to South Africa.
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South Africa were eliminated in the group stage at the 2015 AFCON and failed to qualify for the tournament two years later. Under Molefi Ntseki, South Africa failed to qualify for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. Qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup began with South Africa in a group with Ghana, Zimbabwe, and Ethiopia.
South Africa got off to a promising start, beating a weakened Ghana side 1-0 at home on Matchday 2 and going to the top of the group. South Africa remained at the top of the group until the final matchday when they lost 0-1 away to Ghana after a dubious penalty was awarded to Ghana in the first half. South Africa ultimately finished second to Ghana on goals scored, narrowly missing out on qualification for the final 10-team playoff round to qualify for the World Cup.
The 2023 AFCON was held in January 2024 in Côte d'Ivoire, with Bafana Bafana reaching the semi-finals after being placed in Group E alongside Mali, Namibia and Tunisia.
The "Bafana Bafana" Nickname
"Bafana Bafana" is a nickname given to the national side by its fans. It is Nguni and translates literally as "the boys, the boys". Its actual meaning in Nguni language is, "Go boys! In July 1992, at Kings Park stadium in Durban, fans shouted "Bafana Bafana" [GO BOYS GO BOYS] when South Africa was on the verge of beating Cameroon and after the game.
A group of three journalists, from South Africa newspaper The Sowetan, then began to use the name in print when referring to the team. The trademark was granted but was for clothing only. In 1994, the team's technical sponsor at the time, Kappa, applied for the trademarks "Bafana" and "Bafana Bafana" in class 25. These were granted and subsequently passed on to SAFA.
SAFA made another application to gain ownership of the trademark, with the second application going to the Appeal Court. The court again found that SAFA did not have the necessary grounds for ownership of the name in all classes.
Stadiums and Sponsorship
The South Africa national soccer team does not use a single stadium as its home stadium for matches. The largest venue used is the 94,700-seater Soccer City in Soweto, outside Johannesburg. The team has also hosted matches outside of South Africa.
In preparation for the 1998 FIFA World Cup, the team hosted a friendly in Baiersbronn, Germany. As a warm-up for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, the team hosted a friendly at Mong Kok Stadium in Hong Kong. In 2006 the team hosted a Nelson Mandela Challenge match at Griffin Park, in London, England. During their preparations for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the team hosted two matches in Germany.
Throughout the years, Bafana Bafana has employed multiple logos to represent the team. The prominent Protea emblem, a national symbol of South Africa, particularly in the post-apartheid era, graces the right side of the jersey. A less frequently used yet noteworthy emblem was introduced approximately a decade ago.
When the team returned to international soccer in 1992, their kit was supplied by an Italian clothing company, Kappa. Following the 1998 World Cup, the kits for all South African national soccer teams were supplied by German sports apparel company Adidas.
In October 2013, ABSA announced its resignation as a sponsor of SAFA and the South African national team as of the end of their contract in December 2013. The team now has one main sponsor, Castle Lager, a brand owned by South African Breweries.
The South African Football Association owns the rights to national team matches played in South Africa. SAFA currently has a contract with the South African Broadcasting Corporation, to broadcast these matches. Most large tournaments in which the team play, such as the FIFA World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations, have separate broadcast rights.
World Cup Appearances
Although South Africa has made three appearances in the World Cup, they have not made it past the first round. The team's first attempt to qualify was for the 1994 World Cup, two years after they had been readmitted to FIFA. Their first appearance was in France 1998. Despite a 3-0 drubbing to France in their opening game, they went on to draw against Denmark and Saudi Arabia; the team finished third and thus exited the tournament.
Korea/Japan 2002 saw them eliminated in the group stage again after drawing to Paraguay and beating Slovenia 1-0 for their first-ever World Cup win. Hosting the 2010 World Cup, they beat France 2-1 and drew 1-1 to Mexico, but lost 0-3 to Uruguay.
Evolution of Jersey Designs
Imagine, if you will, a tapestry woven from vibrant threads of passion, dance, and resilience. A canvas splashed with the colors of a continent brimming with talent, where every stitch tells a story of triumphs and defeats etched onto sweat-soaked fabric. This is not just your ordinary football jersey; it's a badge of identity, a war cry painted across the chest, a talisman woven into the beating heart of African football.
In the kaleidoscope of African football, the jerseys worn by the teams transcend mere fabric; they encapsulate stories of heritage, culture, and the collective pride of nations. Each stitch, color, and emblem represents a chapter in the evolving narrative of the tournament, reflecting the diverse identities of the continent. From bold designs that pay homage to ancient traditions to modern interpretations that blend innovation with symbolism, African jerseys stand as vibrant canvases that tell tales beyond the boundaries of the football pitch.
Africa's World Cup fashion choices have been diverse and dynamic over the years, with some of the best efforts ranking among the most iconic football shirts ever seen, and others best resigned to the bargain bins. The continent has regularly been at the forefront of World Cup fashion; be it the simple, timeless designs that heralded Africa's arrival and impact on the grandest stage, to concept designs that have pushed boundaries and created storms of excitement upon their release, the continent's efforts have consistently generated headlines.
Zaire 1974 Egypt wore an uncharacteristic green design in Italy in 1934 -- before later switching to their familiar red colour -- but sub-Saharan Africa had to wait another 40 years before their first qualification. The pioneers were Zaire [now the DRC], and while their campaign was ultimately disastrous, as a fine generation were thoroughly and tragically outclassed in West Germany, they did provide the world with the first truly iconic African football kit.
The initial Le Coq Sportif design evoked the newly-named country's flag -- a green background, a yellow disc, and a hand gripping a lit torch -- with Zairian football adopting the colour scheme introduced by President Mobutu Sese Seko in promoting his 'Authenticité' ideology. At the heart of the design was a roaring leopard's head -- referencing the team's leopards nickname -- and, in case anyone hadn't got it yet, the word 'Zaire'. Adidas took over before the World Cup, adding in the famous stripes to the shoulders and thighs, although even that couldn't prevent Zaire from being pummelled 7-0 by Yugoslavia en route to a First Round elimination.
Their time at the World Cup was brief, but that Zaire kit still lives on in the global psyche to this day. It's a much-sought-after retro shirt, and remains a global hipster favourite.
The early 1980s were a transitional time for kits, with some of the globe's heavyweights sticking closely to their traditional designs, while others opted for more innovative approaches. Algeria -- making their tournament debut -- fall into the second category.
The likes of Lakhdar Belloumi, Mustapha Dahleb, Rabah Madjer and Salah Assad made the small hop over to Spain and promptly defeated West Germany in their tournament opener -- the first African victory over European opponents at this level -- wearing outstanding green and white strips in the process. Headlined by the Arabic name for Algeria -- al-Jazā'ir -- emblazoned in Arabic calligraphy across the chest of the shirt, the vertical stripes over the left side also contributed to this instant classic.
It wasn't quite like anything else the tournament had seen before, although Iran did try a similar self-branding exercise at France '98. Algeria followed this up with similarly striking shirts at the 1986 World Cup -- replete with red away kits -- while Adidas were so taken by the imagery of the '82 shirts, that they co-opted elements of the design into new designs released earlier this year.
The fashion in the 1990s started to hit football in a big way at Italia '90, with the likes of Colombia, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia and the USSR all opting for innovative and colourful designs. Cameroon didn't go for something quite as ambitious, with the antiquated shiny Adidas fabric feeling like they still had one foot in the 80s. However, the roaring indomitable lion on the chest added personality and vibrancy to a no-frills design...the perfect attire for Cameroon's remarkable run to the quarters.
Nigeria's kits at the 1994 World Cup were a thing of beauty, and arguably represented the high point for African designs at the tournament, before template kits took over. Adidas opted to incorporate traditional pattern and fabric designs in both their home and away kit, with the former a dazzling green design and the latter a truly emblematic shirt that was worn so unforgettably by Rashidi Yekini and co. in the Super Eagles' first ever World Cup bout. This was always going to be a hard act to follow, and Nike went for something different in 1998, dropping the traditional elements but still pulling together an underrated pairing.
The white trim on the shoulders and under the arms added dynamism and power to this Eagles selection, and made for a very effective design -- the images of Sunday Oliseh, arms raised, celebrating his thunderbolt against Spain while wearing this shirt is one of the all-time great images of Nigerian football. Morocco also looked the part -- albeit with an early exit -- in their red designs at the '94 tournament, with a large centralised logo and geometric pattern across the shoulders and down the sleeves.
South Africa also ought to be acknowledged for their unique Kappa efforts at the '98 World Cup, where the Italian manufacturer delivered a design that was a re-imagining of the shirts Bafana Bafana had worn in winning the Africa Cup of Nations two years earlier. This top wasn't everyone's cup of tea, but was certainly one of the most ambitious and unforgettable designs seen at a World Cup.
Love them or loathe them, no one can say that Cameroon's kit designs in the 2000s weren't ambitious, with Puma attempting to push through two remarkable strips which are still talked about today. Ahead of the 2002 World Cup, there was their infamous vest kit, which was worn during the victorious Nations Cup campaign, showing off the Lions in all of their dynamic, indomitable glory. Puma eventually relented, adding black material on the arms to ensure that the tournament logo could have its pride of place, although certainly the sartorial tweaking reduced the effectiveness of these revolutionary designs.
Nigeria's kit in 2018 was a record-breaking football kit even before it hit the shelves. Announced by Nike in February, four months before the World Cup, the dazzling home jersey had already reached 3 million pre-sales before it was even released, and when it was put on sale, sold out online within three minutes. It was the greatest pre-sale success story of any Nike football design which, for an African football nation to eclipse Europe's major clubs, is testament to the genuinely striking look of the shirt.
German manufacturer Puma remains king as far as African kits are concerned, and will be dressing three of the five African qualifiers at the '22 tournament. Senegal's home kit features a strong chevron design across the chest, with the return of the red to the trim, an allusion towards the iconic generation of 2002 that reached the quarter-final at the first time of asking, and the nation's best ever kit.
Unfortunately, Puma have lumbered Senegal and Ghana with their questionable 'box' template for the away kit, which looks simultaneously too cluttered and too plain. It can't shake the perception that it would really be a better training shirt than an actual in-game top. The Black Stars' home kit, however, could stake a claim to be among the standout home jerseys of the tournament; it's clean, it's simple, but there's an eye on the detail as well, be it the pan-African colours to cut off the sleeves, or the bold black star on the chest plate.
Conclusion
From the early days of segregation to the vibrant designs of the modern era, the South Africa football jersey tells a story of resilience, unity, and national pride. As Bafana Bafana continues to compete on the world stage, their jerseys will undoubtedly continue to evolve, reflecting the ever-changing identity of a nation.
