HUGO BOSS

HUGO Broos has brought South Africa together. He even had a bier to show for it, carrying it during his post-match press conference at Mbombela Stadium on Tuesday.

Broos guided Bafana to their first World Cup since 2002, after they klapped Rwanda 3-0 in their last qualifier. Broos’ reaction was clearly elated for a moment, showing it by bursting open a dop during his post-match press conference in Nelspruit. Broos deserved it.

His Bafana span achieved the improbable, automatically qualifying for the tournament for the first time since the 2002 edition. They last qualified for the global showpiece merely as hosts in 2010.

Bafana’s qualification was also far from easy. Not only did they have to thump Rwanda, but they  needed Nigeria to beat Benin as well, in the other game  in Uyo, which was played at the same time.

Those two results went their way. They beat Rwanda – courtesy of goals from Thalente Mbatha, Oswin Appollis, who walked away with the man-of-the-match award, and Evidence Makgopa. Nigeria, meanwhile, also got the job done at home, trouncing Benin 4-0.

Broos reserved special praise for his assistant Helman Mkhalele, who made sure that he gained a better understanding of the team in the last few years.

Broos wysed: “Without him, we wouldn’t have achieved what we wanted to, especially without someone like Helman because you all know that I like him very much. Without him, we couldn’t have achieved that.

“I insist that we see what the players did in the last three years. I did say that sometimes, we use different criteria than you [the media] do.”

‘LEKKER BAFANA’ - SA celebrated on X:

President Cyril Ramaphosa: “We are going to the 2026 FIFA World Cup! Well done to the entire @BafanaBafana team. As always, South Africa will be right behind you, supporting you all the way.”

The Springboks: “Yessss @BafanaBafana. Well done on qualifying for the #FIFAWorldCup in the USA, we’re all very proud #ForeverGreenForeverGold”

Lucas Radebe: “Congratulations @BafanaBafana back to the big stage #Worlds2025 now we celebrate.”

Gavin Hunt: “Congratulations! Fully deserved @BafanaBafana @SAFA_net”