After what has seemed to be a stressful relationship between the national team, Bafana Bafana and its fans, faith and hope has been restored. It has been approximately 24 years since the team has qualified for their first Cup of Nations semi-final.
In the match between Bafana Bafana and Cape Verde held in Ivorian capital Yamoussoukro, both teams were unsuccessful at scoring within 120 minutes.After Mihlali Mayambela’s missed chance to give Bafana Bafana a lead in extra time the pressure was high.
This lead to the penalty shootouts which deemed Bafana Bafana goal keeper and captain Ronwen Williams a hero in the eyes of South Africans. Williams produced a captivating performance as he saved not one, not two, not three but four spot-kicks against Cape Verde giving Bafana Bafana a 2-1 lead into the semifinals Cup of Nations. To no surprise Williams was the player of the match after withstanding such intense pressure to put his country into the semifinals.
Much congratulations to Bafana Bafana! They have revived the love and excitement of football in the hearts of many in the nation through their amazing performance in such a long time. As soon as the last spot-kick save by Williams, messages of support and encouragement streamed in numbers across various social media platforms. As a nation you have made us proud Bafana Bafana!