Marcel Desailly highly praised the performances of Bafana Bafana and African teams at the 2026 World Cup

The historic participation of the Bafana Bafana team in the Football World Cup earned universal recognition and a warm reception from South African fans, despite criticism that continues to dispute one of the greatest achievements in the history of South African football.

Airport Welcome

The author, who attended the welcome party at O.R. Tambo International Airport early on Thursday morning, was once again struck by the pride and excitement shared by South African football fans as they greeted Bafana Bafana after their significant performance at the World Cup.

Fans gathered in the international arrivals hall to celebrate the team's historic campaign at the World Cup. Supporters began gathering long before the team's scheduled arrival at 5:30 AM, eager to see the history-making squad.

When the team finally appeared around 7:30 AM, the fans gave them a truly heroic reception.

Tournament Achievements

Bafana became the first South African team to reach the World Cup playoffs before being eliminated by the hosts of Canada in added time of the Round of 32 match on June 28th.

A similar scene was observed in 2023 when Bafana returned with a bronze medal at the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), finishing third. This marked the first time in 23 years that the team had reached the podium at Afcon.

Period under Hugo Broos

There is no doubt that South African football has shown growth since Hugo Broos took charge in 2021. Although, given his age, the 74-year-old specialist will likely retire soon, the foundation he laid is invaluable.

Social Media Reactions

However, reading comments under one of the stories about this heroic reception, the author encountered usual, cliché, and predictable responses. In response to an IOL News post on Facebook about Bafana's arrival, Maryann Walters wrote: 'Why a heroic reception, they won one game, not the World Cup.' Roelof van der Merwe stated: 'At least give them a participation certificate.' Meanwhile, Brent Webber noted: 'Top-32 is a historic event that will not be repeated because they are not a Rainbow Nation team with a quota system. wait, I forgot they had a historic event—3 red cards in the very first opening game of the World Cup.'

Importance of Football Support

The rhetoric of some circles on social media remains the same. The author wishes that critics would come to the airport to voice their objections in person. However, their voices would undoubtedly be drowned out by singing, shouting, and vuvuzela sounds, and no one would notice them.

Nevertheless, it is people like these who stand out, furiously typing on keyboards to share their opinion about Bafana.

Previously, the author wrote a column titled 'Springboks and Proteas Fans Unite—Why Bafana Needs Your Support the Most.' There, he argued: 'Even if Bafana makes a huge shock at the World Cup and passes the group stage, it is unlikely they will receive the same level of support at home as the Springboks or Proteas.'

This material was mainly addressed to typical rugby or cricket fans who too quickly dismiss Bafana's achievements. And even if they made this shock, for the minority who will never truly feel proud of this team, it was not enough.

Football is the most popular sport in South Africa, as well as the most widely played and watched globally. By number of participants, it may be the most competitive sport on the planet. Considering all these factors, what Bafana achieved at the World Cup was both historic and worthy of celebration. The progress they made under Broos is undeniable, but some people simply refuse to acknowledge it.

Despite low statistical chances of seven percent to advance from Group A before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Bafana Bafana team demonstrated the strength of its confidence. The group, which included host countries Mexico, South Korea, and the Czech Republic, was considered very difficult for the South African team. Although many nations in the world ranking are higher, Bafana Bafana overcame initial predictions that described them as a less strong football nation. Their success was a surprise to the world, even though they did not have the opportunity to play against significantly weaker teams in their group. Now that they have advanced from the group, the team can set more ambitious goals, although they face a test in the playoff matches. The team's next opponent is Canada, which ranks 31st in the world ranking.