Maseko of Monterrey and goal made in Cyprus: ‘Enjoy,’ Bafana winger tells SA

Bafana Bafana’s newest hero, Thapelo Maseko, dedicated his man-of-the-match award to South Africa after firing the nation into the 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout rounds.

The pacey winger produced a standout display and scored the decisive goal as Bafana edged South Korea 1-0 at Monterrey Stadium in Mexico on Thursday, securing a place in the round of 32 for the first time in the country’s history.

The achievement comes in the expanded 48-team tournament format, with South Africa now set to face Canada in Los Angeles on Sunday at 21:00 SA time.

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The 22-year-old from Sebokeng was a constant threat for Bafana going forward, causing problems with his pace and direct running.

He found himself in several promising positions and, on another day, could have walked away with a hat-trick based on the chances that came his way.

Yet when the decisive moment arrived, there was a sense that it was only a matter of time before he found the net.

For Maseko, though, the goal was about far more than personal glory.

It was about creating a lasting memory for a nation that has waited 16 years to see Bafana back on football’s biggest stage – and now, finally, celebrating a moment of history.

“It’s an incredible feeling. I feel like I am dreaming almost. I’m a FIFA World Cup man-of-the-match winner,” he told reporters in the mix zone after the match.

While Maseko’s historic goal was scored in Monterrey and celebrated all over South Africa, it was engineered in Cyprus.

A loan spell in Cyprus with AEL Limassol has been behind the resurrection of the winger.

Feeling sidelined at Mamelodi Sundowns due to a lack of playing time, Maseko had lost hope in football.

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