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Inside SA’s tense route to World Cup

The Star

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October 16, 2025

BAFANA Bafana have made remarkable strides over the past few years, gradually reclaiming their place among Africa's footballing giants.

- OBAKENG MELETSE

With their qualification for next year's Fifa World Cup now secured, part of their long-term mission has been successfully accomplished.

Of course, the focus now turns to preparation for the global spectacle. Alough the tournament spans just a month, the buildup and planning demand months of meticulous work to ensure readiness and competitiveness, as the best nations in world football prepare to converge across the US, Canada, and Mexico.

As has become something of a recurring theme for South Africa, their route to qualification was anything but smooth.

Here, we reflect on the top five moments from those tense final fixtures that sealed their qualification.

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