Picture: Bafana Bafana players against Republic Korea/Supplied
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
25 June 2026 – Bafana Bafana have written a new chapter in the history books after advancing to the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup for the first time on a balmy summer evening in Monterrey, Mexico on Wednesday night. The South African senior men’s national team sent Monterrey Stadium into thunderous applause after beating South Korea 1-0 courtesy of a 67th minute strike from man-of-the-match Thapelo Maseko.
The nimble-footed Maseko had tormented the East Asians for long spells during this final Group A match, and his persistence was eventually rewarded when he waltzed his way past the South Korea rear-guard to score the only goal of the match.
Bafana Bafana coach, Hugo Broos said: “I think we played a very good game, tactically. It was very good and everybody did their job. The difference with this game and our previous match (against Czechia) was that when we had the ball, we were very dangerous, and that was very important.
“We had very quick players on the pitch, and we used them very well. We found the spaces during the good moments. And then yeah, we needed that goal. We had a few chances in the first half, and I told the players at halftime to keep on believing. I am very proud of the performance of my team.”
He further said Bafana Bafana had never gone past the group stages of the global tournament after stumbling in the opening stages of the 1998, 2002 and 2010 World Cups. Broos added that they certainly made amends in dramatic fashion in Monterrey when they put the South Koreans to the sword during a dominant display.
“The South African senior men’s national team will now face 2026 FIFA World Cup co-hosts Canada in the Last 32 in Los Angeles on 28 June 2026,” he said.
The Guardian 