Bafana are on an upward curve and long may it continue.
Relebohile Mofokeng (centre) was just one of Bafana Bafana’s talented young players on show on Saturday. Picture: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
One could have been forgiven for thinking Guinea head coach Paulo Duarte had inhaled some of the pungent marijuana fumes floating around Orlando Stadium on Saturday, when he declared Bafana Bafana as one of the best three teams in Africa, alongside Senegal and Morocco.
Duarte overdoes the Bafana hype
There is getting carried away and then there is comparing Bafana to the two 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finalists, jam-packed with superstars of the global game.
Having said that, there was plenty to admire about Bafana in their first game under Pitso Mosimane on Saturday, as they beat Duarte’s Guinea 2-1 in their opening Group D 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
Particularly impressive are the core of young players in this Bafana set-up, men that should be mainstays of the team for some time to come. A lot of credit for this has to go to Hugo Broos, who transformed Bafana’s fortunes in his five years in charge, and was not afraid to give youngsters an opportunity.
Mosimane’s job is to take this forward, and there was certainly no deferring to experience on Saturday. 22-year-old Olwethu Makhanya was given his first competitive start alongside 22-year-old Ime Okon in the heart of Bafana’s defence.
Okon already played alongside the 21-year-old Mbekezeli Mbokazi at the 2026 Fifa World Cup finals, and scored his first goal for Bafana on Saturday.
The 24-year-old Kamogelo Sebelebele played at right back, and after a shaky start, did enough to earn himself the Man-of-the-Match award.
Kabini the match-winner
Relebohile Mofokeng, 21, was perhaps underused by Broos, but looks set to be Bafana’s main playmaker under Mosimane. At 25, Oswin Appollis is already an established Bafana winger, and linked superbly on Saturday with his former Pirates teammate.
The 22-year-old Thapelo Maseko was Bafana’s World Cup hero against South Korea, and again showed his class against Guinea.
Samukele Kabini, meanwhile, also 22, came off the bench to net Bafana’s winner in Orlando.
Duarte might have been too heavy on the hype but there is little doubt the future is bright. Bafana are on an upward curve and long may it continue.
