Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Ms Peace Mabe, has congratulated Bafana Bafana on their emphatic 3–0 victory over Lesotho in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, urging the nation to rally behind the team as they prepare for their next crucial match against Nigeria.
The victory in Bloemfontein showcased South Africa’s strength and determination on the road to the 2026 World Cup. Mohau Nkota opened the scoring with a well-taken goal, before Lyle Foster extended the lead in the second half. Oswin Appollis sealed the triumph with a composed finish, sending thousands of supporters into celebration and leaving the national team firmly at the top of Group C.
Deputy Minister Mabe praised the performance as a symbol of national pride, noting that football continues to unite South Africans across all divides.
“This performance was not just about the scoreline, it was about spirit, belief, and the kind of resilience that reflects who we are as a people. Today, Bafana Bafana reminded us that our flag can be raised high in victory, and that our journey to the World Cup is not a dream, but a real possibility. As we look ahead to Nigeria, we must rally as one nation and stand firmly behind our team. Whether at home, in schools, in workplaces, or in the stadium, every voice of support matters.”
The Deputy Minister situated the victory within the broader national sporting narrative, recalling South Africa’s proud history on the world stage.
“We know what it feels like to compete among the best. Just two years after winning the 1996 African Cup of Nations, South Africa qualified on merit for the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France. In 2010, we hosted the world on our soil, welcoming nations with warmth and pride. Today’s victory brings back those memories and challenges us to believe that we can once again walk proudly among football’s giants.”
Mabe emphasised that her role, guided by the National Sport and Recreation Act of 1998 and the National Sport and Recreation Plan, is to ensure that government creates an enabling environment for equitable participation and sustainable pathways for athletes.
“Our responsibility is to make sure that victories such as this one are not isolated moments, but the result of structured investment in talent development, safe facilities, and equal access to opportunity. Football, like all sport, is not a privilege but a right for all South Africans. That is the principle we live by.”
She reminded the public that Bafana Bafana’s victory comes at a time when South African sport is enjoying a golden era. The Springboks are reigning rugby world champions, having secured their historic fourth title in 2023. The Proteas broke a decades-long drought by winning the World Test Championship earlier this year, lifting South Africa’s cricket credentials to new heights. At youth level, the Junior Springboks lifted the 2025 World Rugby U20 Championship for the first time in over a decade. These successes, Mabe said, are proof of a nation on the rise across multiple sporting codes.
“Sport is not simply about competition, it is about identity, health, education, and nation-building,” she said. “When our athletes succeed, they inspire millions of young people to dream, to work hard, and to believe in their own potential. What Bafana Bafana achieved against Lesotho is a continuation of that story. They are not only playing for points on a table, they are playing for the pride and hope of a country.”
Looking ahead to the Nigeria qualifier, Mabe called for unity and discipline.
“Nigeria will be a formidable opponent. They are a continental powerhouse. But football has shown us many times that belief, preparation, and unity can overturn any odds. My call to South Africans is simple: leave no doubt about where your support lies. Stand with Bafana Bafana. Encourage them. Show them that they carry not just the badge of the association but the heartbeat of a nation.”
The Deputy Minister closed by reaffirming government’s ongoing commitment to strengthen the links between grassroots sport, professional pathways, and high-performance systems. She noted that sustainable success requires investment in schools, local clubs, and community facilities that allow talent to grow.
“Every world-class athlete starts as a child with a ball at their feet. Our task, as government and as partners with the private sector, is to ensure that every child has a safe place to play, coaches to guide them, and opportunities to progress. Only then will we consistently produce teams capable of qualifying for the World Cup and standing tall against the world’s best.”
Her reflections carried a reminder of the past as inspiration for the present. South Africa’s proud footballing history includes the triumph of qualifying on merit for the 1998 FIFA World Cup, just two years after lifting the African Cup of Nations in 1996, and the unforgettable experience of hosting the world in 2010. Those milestones, she said, prove that with discipline, belief, and unity, South Africa can once again stand among football’s elite.
“In 1998, we showed Africa and the world that we belonged on the grandest stage. In 2010, we hosted with pride and gave South Africans unforgettable memories. Today, after fifteen years, we can dare to dream again. Let us believe. Let us support. And let us make sure that when history looks back at this moment, it will say that South Africa once again united behind Bafana Bafana and carried them to greatness.”
As the celebrations in Bloemfontein give way to preparations for the showdown against Nigeria, the Deputy Minister made it clear that the path ahead will demand more than talent on the pitch. It will require the full weight of a nation’s belief and the steady commitment of institutions to build an environment where sport thrives from grassroots to global stage.
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