Bafana, the movie: LA-bound Broos and the Boys write script fit for Hollywood

Bafana Bafana wrote a script fit for Hollywood when they rose from a poor showing in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup to make history by advancing to the knockout stage of the global showpiece for the first time. That’s fitting, as up next is a trip to Los Angeles where they will face Canada in the round of 32, writes Njabulo Ngidi.

At Monterrey Stadium

Bafana Bafana are going to Los Angeles after writing a script that would make Hollywood proud.

The South African men’s senior national football team completed a dramatic turnaround reminiscent of the sport fairytale movies that Hollywood regularly churns out.

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Bafana’s story, as in those movies, started with a hero whose glory days are behind them, but there is enough spark in the tank to capture the imagination once again.

Hugo Broos, the 74-year-old Bafana coach, plays the sage old trainer in this epic. Think Clint Eastwood in Million Dollar Baby.

RECAP | Bafana make history, qualify for World Cup knockouts as SA poised to celebrate

Broos almost quit coaching Bafana after a testing first year in the job. Politics and just how low the team was - South Africans had long since turned their backs on them - hit him smack in the face.

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However, the Belgian saw a glimmer of hope in the resilience that the team showed when they buckled down to rise from the depths of despair to the podium of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).

In movie speak, that rise would be the set-up. The confrontation came in the opening match of this year’s FIFA World Cup when the team froze against co-hosts Mexico to lose 2-0 at Azteca Stadium.

Bafana produced a pitiful and uninspiring performance, and many South Africans were expecting them home soon after finishing their mandatory group stage games. They were hammered back home for their showing, with former players and international pundits questioning whether Bafana belong at this level.

Bafana players were bullied online - by their fans and some Africans who were hate-watching the side in supporting every team they faced in protest of the anti-immigrant sentiment prevalent in Mzansi.

On the floor, and almost out for the count, Bafana rose to steal a point against Czechia in Atlanta in their second game of the tournament.

The team was far from convincing, but they showed enough to suggest that they could do something when they took on South Korea in a must-win match at Monterrey Stadium.

It’s a position that Bafana enjoy - their backs against the wall, the world and their own supporters doubting them by questioning their competency. The crowd that filled this arena largely backed South Korea, due to the large diaspora from the Asian country that resides in Monterrey.

It was a hopeless situation, darker than Mzansi becomes during load shedding. But just like South Africa regularly does, Bafana found a spark.

Bit-by-bit on Thursday morning (SA time) they rose from the darkness to the bright lights of the knockout stage of the World Cup, which will be staged in the even brighter Los Angeles. There they will face Canada in the Round of 32 on Sunday.

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Thapelo Maseko produced the magical moment. If this was a movie, it would have been turned into numerous slow-motions to drive home how momentous it was.

The forward had struggled on the night, missing three glorious chances that were created by Relebohile Mofokeng.

But he didn’t give up, and showed his class to convert a goal that gave Bafana a historic 1-0 win and a maiden appearance in the knockouts of the global showpiece.

Broos started with a more attack-minded line-up, throwing caution to the wind and unleashing the real Bafana to the world.

Evidence Makgopa led the attack in place of Iqraam Rayners, while Sphephelo Sithole manned the midfield in the absence of Teboho Mokoena. Mofokeng, slotting in for Jayden Adams, pulled the strings in midfield.

Thanks to this line-up, Bafana finally arrived at the World Cup. The South Africans played with better attacking intent and control, creating more clear-cut chances in the first half than they did in both matches against Mexico and Czechia.

The introduction of Mofokeng in the starting XI was a game changer. The playmaker showed why he is the most exciting talent in South African football.

The 21-year-old has shown at his club that he is the man for big occasions, with the ability to produce moments of inspiration out of nothing. Broos, however, has been conservative in how he has used him in the national team.

The Belgian dropped that conservative approach and Mofokeng stepped up. His crisp passes pierced the South Korean defence to launch his Vaal homeboy, Maseko, whose bursts of pace and ball control troubled the Asians.

However, Maseko’s decision-making let him down. The forward failed to convert three good opportunities created by Mofokeng before the hour mark.

Broos covered his face in anguish at the third instance, with Bafana’s dominance turning into an all too familiar horror show - they create enough chances to bury their opponents and their descendants, but don’t take them.

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And when their opponents wake up from their slumber, they punish Bafana. This has been the story of the team.

But that wasn’t their story here. Bafana never gave up. Sithole’s performance embodied the spirit of the team.

The midfielder had a shocking game against Mexico. He was at fault for the first goal of El Tri and was sent off in the second half.

His World Cup looked over. But Mokoena’s suspension created an opening for Sithole’s redemption story.

The midfielder took that opportunity with both hands. He was quicker, more alert and brought fight, hustling the Koreans and producing goal-saving blocks.

Sithole worked so tirelessly that he limped towards the end of the game, but when Bafana needed him he found a burst of energy to fight again.

While Maseko and Mofokeng stole the show with their display up front, Sithole’s heart contributed in earning Bafana the win.

Broos collapsed to the floor when the referee blew the final whistle as Bafana rose from the ruins to glory - in just over two weeks.

It’s a script fit for a Hollywood epic. But Bafana’s story isn’t over just yet. The plot thickens against Canada where they will look to continue writing this crazy, unpredictable South African story.

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