South Africans welcomed back Bafana Bafana from Ivory Coast. Image: X.
Watch: Bafana Bafana arrive back home
South Africa’s Bafana Bafana side, Africa’s third-best team, have returned home. Here’s a video from the OR Tambo Airport.
South Africans welcomed back Bafana Bafana from Ivory Coast. Image: X.
The Afcon bronze medalist, Bafana Bafana, landed on home soil at 04:00 this morning. South Africans got up early to deliver warm welcomes.
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BAFANA BAFANA ARRIVE IN JOHANNESBURG
Check out the video below, as shared by the veteran football reporter Marc Strydom.
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HOW SOUTH AFRICA WON BRONZE AT AFCON 2023
The campaign started with a glitch as South Africa lost 2-0 to Mali.
Hugo Broos’ men responded with a 4-0 win over Namibia before drawing 0-0 with Tunisia.
Bafana went on to shock Morocco 2-0 in the last 16 and then beat Cape Verde 0-0 (2-1) on penalties in the quarter-finals.
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South Africa eventually lost (1-1) 4-2 on penalties against Nigeria in the semi-finals before beating DR Congo in the third-place match to clinch the bronze medal.
“I said after Nigeria match that I was proud of this team, and I think people can see why I say I am proud of this team. We were not fresh but when you see the mentality in that group, it is impressive,” said Bafana coach Broos, quoted by All Africa.
“The boys did very well. They showed great mentality. They tried to do what I asked, and I understand that it was difficult. It shows that we if we have problems, we can count on those who are on the bench.
“I was satisfied with players on the pitch, but I was even more satisfied with those not on the pitch. They were encouraging them and pushing them. From this, you know that you have 23 guys who want one thing and that is winning.
“With this third place, we don’t have to think now everything is okay, there is still a lot of work to do,” the Belgian coach added.
“But I think the basic is there, everyone knows now that when they play for the national team, what we expect from a player, is the good mentality, and we show it,” the tactician continued.
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“If you can play all those games like my team did then you have the right mentality so again the basics is there now. The players are there now, even though we still have to go and work on it and try to progress with the team.
“But yes, we are two steps further than two years ago and I think this is very important,” the Bafana mentor concluded.
You can find more articles from Siseko Gwegwe here.
