By Levy Masiteng
Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos said he was proud of the progress his team made at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, describing the tournament as an important step in South Africa’s football journey after the national team returned home to a hero’s welcome on Thursday morning.
The team arrived at O.R. Tambo International Airport, where hundreds of jubilant supporters, government officials and Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie gathered to welcome the squad.
South Africa’s campaign ended in the Round of 32 after defeat to Canada, but Bafana still made history by reaching the knockout stages of a FIFA World Cup for the first time.
Speaking during a media briefing, Broos said the team had every reason to be satisfied with its performances.
“The first game overwhelmed us. We realised it was not just a game but something special with more than 80 000 people there to watch,” Broos said.
“We were not so bad defensively, but after winning the ball it was a disaster. After that first game we sat down with the players, showed them what was wrong and what was good, and told them to forget the bad but learn from it. From then on we played well. We are happy and satisfied with our performances because it was not easy. Now we have to look to the future, improve and achieve even better results.”
The opening match, a 2-0 defeat to Mexico, proved to be a harsh introduction to the level and intensity of the tournament. But Bafana recovered from that setback to keep their campaign alive and eventually progress beyond the group stage.
The atmosphere at the airport reflected the country’s pride, with fans singing, waving South African flags and chanting the players’ names as they arrived.
Broos, however, questioned the red card shown to veteran midfielder Themba Zwane during the tournament, saying it was difficult to understand.
“The red card on Themba is ridiculous. I don’t understand it,” he said.
“We took Themba with the hope that he could help us.”
The Belgian coach said one of the biggest lessons from the World Cup was the need to maintain concentration throughout matches.
“It is a matter of concentration. African teams are suffering from that because they lose focus, but this is something they can work on. Otherwise they will keep losing games.”
Captain Ronwen Williams said the opening match served as a valuable learning experience for the squad.
“The first game, the hype and the pressure were a bit too much,” Williams admitted.
“We have an experienced coach. He left us alone for two days and we only had recovery training. On the Monday we looked at where we could improve and recover from the first game.”
Williams said studying other World Cup matches helped the players better understand the level of competition.
“We started watching other matches as well. We saw the level of the games, the mistakes that teams were making and what we needed to fix. It was a good wake-up call, but it also showed that we can compete and we can play.”
The Bafana captain also praised winger Thapelo Maseko, who impressed during the tournament.
“Going into the tournament we knew we had a weapon in him because he looked powerful and strong. I’m just happy that he is in a good space. Wherever his future is, I hope he can perform and be happy. We are proud of him and will continue supporting him.”
Williams said the tournament highlighted the bright future of South African football.
“The team has been on a positive path. All the young guys in South Africa are very talented. We must thank the coach for trusting them and allowing them to play at the World Cup. I’m proud of them. The mentality they have at such a young age is incredible.”
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