Bafana Bafana’s historic World Cup run, marked by unexpected achievements and a dramatic exit against Canada, has reignited hope and pride in South African football. Picture: Molly Darlington/Getty Images/AFP
While weary-eyed South Africans will wake up on Monday with heavy hearts after Bafana Bafana crashed out of the Fifa World Cup, they can still hold their heads high after a historic run at the quadrennial showpiece.
Bafana were cruelly knocked out as Canada scored the winner in a 1-0 Round of 32 victory deep into referee’s added time, just as South Africans were beginning to prepare themselves for extra time and perhaps even penalties.
Still, Bafana were never expected to get this far.
Personally, I thought they might sneak through to the knockout stages as one of the best third-placed finishers in the expanded 48-team World Cup.
