Lloyd Burnard | Here’s to the no-hopers, Bafana’s ride-or-dies who never stopped believing

Bafana Bafana’s heroics at the 2026 World Cup is one for die-hard supporters who have been with them through the dark times, writes Lloyd Burnard.

It might just be the greatest day in the history of South African football.

There was Mark Williams’ double strike 30 years ago that landed Bafana Bafana their maiden - and only - Africa Cup of Nations title. There was hosting the world on 11 June, 2010, when Siphiwe Tshabalala rocked Soccer City with one strike of his left boot.

Those were glorious days. But this one is different.

Because now, for the first time ever, South African football has overcome the hurdle that counts most at a FIFA World Cup. They are, for the first time, out of the group stages. Into the knockouts, Bafana now stand alongside football’s elite, and with a last 32 clash against Canada on the cards for Sunday, why not dare to dream that they can go even one step further?

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Bafana entered their first World Cup since 2010 completely under the radar, and that was mirrored by a collective shrug of the shoulders from a significant chunk of the South African sporting community at their return.

Few were given a chance as they entered Group A as comfortably the lowest-ranked of the four sides in the group, and any optimism was dealt an extinguishing hammer blow after a dismal performance saw them go down 2-0 in the tournament opener to Mexico.

At that point, it seemed like the writing was on the wall, and when Michal Sidilek put Czechia 1-0 up inside six minutes of game two, even more so.

But Bafana would not roll over.

They fought their way back to a 1-1 draw against Czechia that sparked a flicker of hope.

And then, in the