Last night South Africa’s national men’s football team – Bafana Bafana – won its game against Ethiopia, opening the SA side to the possibility of moving forward in qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Now, SA needs to defeat the last seed of Group G Zimbabwe on 11 November, and then take on the Black Stars of Ghana in a bid that just a month ago seemed nearly impossible.
The change? A new head coach in the guise of Belgium-born Hugo Broos who has very quickly gained the respect and admiration of South African soccer fans.
Broos has led SA to the pole position of Group G after 3 wins in a row, with many believing this is the best Bafana Bafana has performed in recent memory – much to the delight of SA fans who have dealt with years of poor performance from the national team.
Needless to say, South African soccer fans are excited – “Bafana Bafana” has been trending across the country’s Twitter since last night, currently the 5th top trend.
Let’s join the conversation:
Rise and Shine to my nation… We can now wear our Bafana Bafana colours with pride and joy and some little smile as a cherry on top 😁😁
Thanks to Hugo Broos 💪🏾
Enjoy your day 🇿🇦❤️ pic.twitter.com/vEJceQkYln— The Notorious Cellular® (@Cellular_Jnr) October 13, 2021
Fans are trusting the judgement of Broos, and defending him from detractors who are upset that former top players are not being included in the national squad.
Watching the #BafanaBafanaCoach press conference.
Hugo Broos has a plan…let's support him
— Just_Prince_Sports14⚽⚽ (@PrinceSobayeni) May 12, 2021
So called experienced players got Ntseki fired from Bafana Bafana. Hugo Broos took another path, tops the group, no losses. Camp chair coaches are back on the TL saying he must play the same dudes who failed. Your players won’t be selected by Broos, keep crying, it’s beautiful🤣 pic.twitter.com/rTSNHbQWaS
— Sbudda Radebe (@EphraimSbudda) October 13, 2021
If Bafana Bafana was coached by fans we would be sitting on 0 points 🤭🤭🤭🤭🤭
— Mingus 🤭 (@Sir_M_Charles) October 13, 2021
We need to separate club loyalty and personal favourites when talking about Bafana Bafana. This team is doing well (of course there’s room for improvement), let’s stop being irrational
— Madam Chair👑 (@SesiTlholo) October 13, 2021
"Bafana Bafana needs players with experience" 🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩
— Mingus 🤭 (@Sir_M_Charles) October 13, 2021
Notable accounts are also chiming in, welcoming Bafana’s renewed performance.
Yes! Bafana Bafana are back on top of Group G after beating Ethiopia 1-0 at the FNB Stadium this evening in their World Cup qualifier 🇿🇦🔝
Long may this form continue 😍⚽
— Woolworths SA (@WOOLWORTHS_SA) October 12, 2021
Dankie @BafanaBafana.
— Mmusi Maimane (@MmusiMaimane) October 12, 2021
Above all, this marks one of the first times in a long while that the national team is being treated with excitement and hope and not derision and ridicule.
This is the Bafana Bafana we want, the boys are showing hunger to play football, in Hugo Bross we believe#BafanaBafana pic.twitter.com/ZfUq659Hni
— Tiyani (@tiyani_oscar) October 12, 2021
#BafanaBafana have been playing really well lately. Congrats on the win tonight boys. 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👊🏾
— Tumisho Masha (@TumishoMasha) October 12, 2021
Hugo Broos is the name 🔥🔥🔥 #BafanaBafana pic.twitter.com/aBHic9Vyq6
— Yoli❤️ (@Yoleka_Ntuli) October 9, 2021
By Luis Monzon
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