Bafana won’t go to the World Cup just to make up the numbers - Thabo Nthethe
Former South Africa player Thabo Nthethe (pictured) showed optimism that Bafana Bafana will not only participate in the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada but also compete strongly against top global teams. Picture: Independent Media. Picture: Samuel Shivambu, BackpagePix
Image: Samuel Shivambu, BackpagePix
Following Bafana Bafana’s inspiring qualification for the Fifa World Cup, former South Africa player Thabo Nthethe believes the side could pull off a few surprises at the big event in the USA, Mexico and Canada next year.
As the Hugo Broos-led Bafana beat Rwanda 3-0 in the final round of Fifa World Cup qualifiers on Tuesday, it meant South Africa finished top of Group C to punch their ticket to the quadrennial showpiece.
South Africa can also be quite grateful to Nigeria, who beat Benin 4-0 in their final match to allow Bafana to leapfrog the West Africans into top spot.
It’s been 24 years since Bafana last qualified for the 2002 World Cup, as they were granted automatic entry to the 2010 edition as hosts.
Bafana Bafana’s Historic World Cup Qualification and Future Ambitions
“This means a lot because it’s been years without us qualifying. We only played in a World Cup where we were the host in 2010. And after that, I mean, we’ve never even come close. But now, automatically, we qualified; this is great,” Nthethe told SportsBoom.co.za in an exclusive interview.
The 41-year-old Nthethe said it was especially pleasing to see Bafana more clinical in front of goal.
“The boys have been doing well, and they’ve been taking their chances, especially goals. We’ve been scoring goals. So, this is what I actually think has changed. We’ve been winning games. The boys showed hunger. The mentality was that whoever plays, make sure that the team and the nation go forward. I’m so proud.
“This will motivate them to do better and not to go to the World Cup next year just to add numbers, but to compete with the big teams in the world.”