Bafana Bafana's bold pursuit of success

SOUTH Africans are hopeful that Bafana Bafana will conquer the continent three decades after Neil Tovey and Co. were crowned Africa Cup of Nations champions on home soil.

- MATSHELANE MAMABOLO

The wait for a second African title has been too long, punctuated as it was by some disappointing performances that saw Bafana becoming the laughing stock of the continent. Who can forget the embarrassment of 2006 in Egypt when the squad led by the late Ted Dumitru lost all three of their group matches without scoring a goal?

Bafana had plunged into such low depths it could only get better thereafter, right? Only it didn't. South Africa missed out on the next two tournaments, failing to qualify. The return to the biennial, continental showpiece came courtesy of us hosting in 2013 but Gordon Igesund and his men failed to take advantage of home ground like Clive Barker's Class of 1996.