Bafana Bafana is the nickname for South Africa’s men’s national football (soccer) team. The name comes from the Zulu for “the boys, the boys.”
Football has been played in what is now South Africa since the mid-1800s. The first national team was formed in the late 1800s. During most of the late 20th century, South African football experienced difficult times. South Africa was disqualified from the first African Cup of Nations tournament, in 1957, because of apartheid. In 1976, in response to worldwide outrage over the violent suppression of an anti-apartheid movement called the Soweto Uprising, the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) expelled South Africa. The team was therefore no longer allowed to participate in international games.
In 1991, as apartheid was ending, a new, multiracial football association was formed. It was called the South African Football Association. Bafana Bafana was then readmitted to FIFA. On July 7, 1992, South Africa’s national team played their first game in two decades. They beat Cameroon 1–0. In 1996 South Africa hosted the African Cup of Nations and won the trophy. Bafana Bafana qualified for the FIFA World Cup in 1998 and 2002.
In 2009 South Africa hosted the FIFA Confederations Cup. This is a tournament with eight teams. The six FIFA confederation champions, the host country, and the winner of the previous World Cup qualify. South Africa lost 1–0 to Brazil in the semifinals.
In 2010 South Africa hosted football’s most important tournament, the FIFA World Cup. It was the first time that this quadrennial event was held in Africa. South Africa did not advance past the first round, but the tournament was a success.
