Minister of Sport, Arts, and Culture, Zizi Kodwa has urged everyone in South Africa to rally behind Bafana Bafana, who will face Nigeria in the Africa Cup of Nations semi-final on Wednesday.
Kodwa will travel to Cote d’Ivoire to support Bafana against the three-time champions at the Stade de la Paix in Bouake at 19:00 (SAST).
Bafana reached the semi-final after beating Cape Verde 2-1 on penalties on Saturday, where goalkeeper and captain Ronwen Williams was the star of the show, becoming the first keeper in AFCON history to save four penalties.
As a consequence, Hugo Broos’ Boys will compete in the Last-four in the competition for a first time in 24 years.
“Bafana Bafana has inspired many at the 34th AFCON. The team has risen from past disappointments to display the winning trajectory being exhibited by South African Sport, Arts, and Culture on international platforms,” said Kodwa.
“They have broken records by keeping four clean sheets in the tournament. The heroics of the Bafana Bafana players during the tournament, including the feats of captain Ronwen Williams in the quarter-finals, will live long in the memories of football supporters.”
Bafana are in the semi-final despite having lost the first game of the competition, going down 2-0 to Mali in Group E.
“Spain and Argentina lost their opening games in the 2010 and 2022 FIFA World Cup, respectively, before winning those tournaments,” revealed Kodwa.
“I believe Bafana Bafana have that champion spirit to replicate this by going the whole way and bringing the AFCON title home.”
As Bafana are playing in the semi-final for the first time in over two decades, Kodwa has urged every citizen to rally behind Bafana.
“I encourage South Africans from all walks of life to rally together and get behind Bafana Bafana, who have been excellent ambassadors for South Africa and have proudly raised the country’s flag high,” added Kodwa.
“It has been great to see South Africans wearing their Bafana Bafana jerseys and to see the supporters and journalists who have been proudly behind the team in Cote d’Ivoire.
“Let us unite in our support for Bafana Bafana. Let us gather in our homes and in public spaces to show our support for this team, which has made the nation so proud at AFCON. As proud South Africans, let us once again show the power of sport to unite people from all walks of life.”
