Ramaphosa promises public holiday if Bafana Bafana wins World Cup
President Ramaphosa has showered Bafana Bafana with praise as the team prepares to jet off to the FIFA World Cup.
President Cyril Ramaphosa says he is confident that Bafana Bafana can bring home the 2026 FIFA World Cup trophy.
Ramaphosa hosted the football stars during a send-off dinner in Pretoria on Wednesday night and encouraged the players to represent the country with pride on the international stage.
May you have wind in your sails, steel in your veins and thunder in your boots.
Ramaphosa confident of a win
“And in many, many words, we have to say Bafana Bafana is back. They are back with belief, back with a purpose they are back with courage, and they are back where they belong, amongst the giants of world football.
“Through triumphs and disappointments and through difficult qualifying campaigns and rebuilding seasons, South Africans never stopped believing in this team. We do, as South Africans, believe that that trophy belongs here, and we want to see you bring it back here,” Ramaphosa told the squad.
Coach Hugo Broos reveals World Cup squad
The final 26-man squad was announced by Bafana Bafana head coach, Hugo Broos at the send-off dinner on Wednesday.
The team is set to take on Mexico in exactly two weeks in the tournament's much-anticipated opening match.
The 19 players are from local teams such as Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns, Kaizer Chiefs and Siwelele FC. The other seven play for clubs overseas.
This is the national team’s first tournament since South Africa hosted the FIFA World Cup in 2010.
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President Ramaphosa wishes Bafana Bafana good luck
“We wish you strength, we wish you focus and success as you depart for this tournament. And let me say this clearly, I will be there when you lift the trophy on the 19th of July. I will gladly declare it a public holiday,” said Ramaphosa.
“So, South Africans, you can be sure there is another unexpected public holiday on the way when they bring the cup back”
On Friday night, Bafana Bafana will go head-to-head with Nicaragua in a friendly match in Soweto, ahead of the tournament.
See all the names of the final squad below:
Goalkeepers
- Ronwen Williams — Mamelodi Sundowns
- Ricardo Goss — Siwelele FC
- Sipho Chaine — Orlando Pirates
Defenders
- Khuliso Mudau — Mamelodi Sundowns
- Nkosinathi Sibisi — Orlando Pirates
- Ime Okon — Hannover 96
- Khulumani Ndamane — Mamelodi Sundowns
- Aubrey Modiba — Mamelodi Sundowns
- Samukele Kabini — Molde FK
- Thabang Matuludi — Polokwane City
- Kamogelo Sebelebele — Orlando Pirates
- Olwethu Makhanya — Philadelphia Union
- Bradley Cross — Kaizer Chiefs
- Mbekezeli Mbokazi — Chicago Fire
Midfielders
- Teboho Mokoena — Mamelodi Sundowns
- Thalente Mbatha — Orlando Pirates
- Sphephelo Sithole — CD Tondela
- Jayden Adams — Mamelodi Sundowns
Forwards
- Oswin Appollis –Orlando Pirates
- Iqraam Rayners — Mamelodi Sundowns
- Tshepang Moremi — Orlando Pirates
- Relebohile Mofokeng — Orlando Pirates
- Evidence Makgopa — Orlando Pirates
- Themba Zwane — Mamelodi Sundowns
- Lyle Foster — Burnley
- Thapelo Maseko — Mamelodi Sundowns
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