Bafana Bafana sent the nation into a frenzy on Monday, when the South African football team sent off Ghana in a 1 – 0 victory at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg.
Bafana Bafana kickstart road to Qatar 2022
New national team manager Hugo Broos kickstarted his campaign with a solid performance from his boys. The well-rounded defensive strategy paid off in the 83rd minute when Bongokuhle Hlongwane netted a winner that the Ghanian will know was highly avoidable.
Speaking to the media after the game, Broos championed his side for their brave showing against the group favourites.
“I’m very proud and happy today after what I saw from my team. We made huge progress in one week. When I saw my team play in Zimbabwe there was no confidence, no determination, no belief in themselves.
“But what I saw today, I saw a team with confidence who played a very good game. There was determination, a will to win, discipline and that’s what I like,” he said.
What does the team need to qualify for 2022 FIFA World Cup?
With this major victory in the bag, Broos’ squad is well on its way to booking a Qatar Airways flight to the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
However, any South African who’s invested their emotions into the national football team’s qualifier campaigns will know that this is no time to celebrate.
South Africa still have a mountain to climb before their participation in the world’s greatest tournament can be inked on paper.
Because South Africa is ranked 13th in Africa, the team launched its campaign in the second round of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
Broos’ side will have to play home-and-away fixtures in the group stage with these teams:
- Ghana (ranked seventh in Africa)
- Zimbabwe (ranked 27th in Africa)
- Ethiopia (ranked 44th in Africa)
So far, the South African national team has played two fixtures in this group, a goalless away encounter with Zimbabwe and a crucial home victory against Ghana.
For South Africa to make it into the third round, Broos’ squad has to top Group G. The third round will see the 10 group winners face off in home-and-away fixtures and the five teams that emerge victorious will be Africa’s representation in Qatar.
Currently, South Africa sits at the top of their group with four games remaining.
Bafana Bafana 2022 FIFA World Cup fixtures
The national team will know that this is only the beginning. As dark horses of the group, Broos will have to keep the boys grounded ahead of a crucial campaign in October 2021.
These are the remaining fixtures Bafana Bafana are scheduled for in the group stage of the qualifiers:
- Away to Ethiopia on 6 October 2021
- Home to Ethiopia on 10 October 2021
- Home to Zimbabwe on 11 October 2021
- Away to Ghana on 14 October 2021
Bafana Bafana last featured in the FIFA World Cup in 2010 as hosts of the football competition.