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The South African men’s national soccer team, known as Bafana Bafana (meaning “The Boys” in Zulu), represents South Africa in international soccer and is managed by the South African Football Association, the sport’s governing body in the country. Their home ground is the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, and the team is a member of both FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Bafana Bafana is among the most popular national teams in Africa, distinguished by their traditional yellow and green kits.

The team played its inaugural match in 1906 but returned to the international scene in 1992 after a 16-year FIFA ban and 40 years of effective suspension due to apartheid. South Africa has qualified for the FIFA World Cup three times: in 1998, 2002, and 2010, when it became the first African nation to host the tournament.

Although they won their final group stage match against France 2–1, they did not advance past the first round, making them the first host nation in World Cup history to exit at this stage, a fate later matched by Qatar in 2022. As of February 15, 2024, South Africa ranks 10th in Africa (CAF) and 58th in FIFA.

The team’s most significant accomplishment occurred in 1996 when they hosted and won the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). They reached the final again in 1998 but were defeated by Egypt.

Prominent players in Bafana Bafana’s history include Benni McCarthy, the all-time top scorer with 31 goals, and Aaron Mokoena, who holds the record for the most caps with 107 appearances. Other notable players are Lucas Radebe, Doctor Khumalo, and Itumeleng Khune.