BY THEMBA ZWANE
MBABANE – Jubilant Emaswati joined millions of football fans across Southern Africa in celebrating South Africa’s historic qualification for the FIFA World Cup knockout stages after Bafana Bafana edged South Korea 1-0 on Thursday morning.
The victory, secured by a 63rd-minute strike from Thapelo Maseko, saw South Africa advance beyond the World Cup group stage for the first time in the nation’s history. The result ensured Bafana Bafana finished second in Group A behind Mexico and booked a place in the Round of 32.
Across Eswatini, football supporters took to social media and football discussion groups to congratulate their neighbours, with many describing the achievement as a victory for Southern African football as a whole.
The celebrations were particularly significant given South Africa’s difficult start to the tournament. Bafana Bafana opened their campaign with a 2-0 defeat to Mexico before rescuing their hopes with a 1-1 draw against Czechia. They then produced their finest performance when it mattered most, defeating South Korea to write a new chapter in South African football history.
For many Emaswati, the achievement resonates beyond national borders. South African football clubs enjoy a strong following in Eswatini, while many local players have featured in South Africa’s professional leagues over the years. As a result, Bafana Bafana’s success has been widely embraced by football supporters in the Kingdom.
The historic qualification also marks a remarkable turnaround under coach Hugo Broos, who described reaching the knockout stages as the reward for five years of hard work and belief. Broos said the achievement was especially meaningful after previous South African teams failed to progress beyond the group phase in 1998, 2002 and 2010.
South Africa’s winning goal came after a well-worked move involving Tshepang Moremi, whose delivery found Maseko inside the penalty area. The winger made no mistake, firing past the South Korean goalkeeper to spark wild celebrations among South African supporters in Monterrey, Mexico.
The result has attracted widespread praise from football fans around the world, many noting how South Africa recovered from their disappointing opening defeat to qualify for the knockout rounds. Online football communities described the achievement as one of the tournament’s feel-good stories and a major milestone for African football.
Bafana Bafana will now face Canada in the Round of 32 on June 28, with hopes growing that the Southern Africans can continue their dream run on the global stage.
For now, however, Emaswati are simply celebrating alongside their neighbours, proud to see a fellow Southern African nation making history at football’s biggest tournament.
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