The South African national football team, Bafana Bafana, faced disappointment as they were eliminated in the group stages of the 2014 African Nations Championship. Despite hosting the tournament, South Africa’s hopes were dashed with a 3-1 defeat to Nigeria. The team had initially started the competition well with a 3-1 victory over Mozambique but failed to secure a spot in the quarter-finals.
The Minister of Sports, Fikile Mbalula, expressed frustration, stating, “We have never won anything; we are the laughing stock of Africa.” The South African Football Federation (SAFA) is also considering changes, including a potential name and color change for the team. This idea recalls a similar proposal in 1995 during the Rugby World Cup, where Nelson Mandela’s intervention preserved the Springboks’ name, leading to their subsequent victory.
