Bafana Bafana: South Africa's National Team

As Bafana Bafana prepare to face the USA, we give you the low-down on South Africa's national team

Bafana Bafana are set to return to the Mother City for the first time in three years for the Nelson Mandela Challenge, an International Friendly against the USA at the Cape Town Stadium on 17th November 2010.

The USA are currently ranked 18th in the latest FIFA rankings whilst Bafana Bafana are ranked 58th but Bafana Bafana's performance in the 2010 FIFA World Cup and local support could once again yield surprising results for South Africa's national team.

Bafana Bafana did not qualify for the 2006 World Cup in Germany but just five years after their return to football and just three years after their momentous victory at the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations South Africa made their FIFA debut on home territory.

Despite the fact that Bafana Bafana did not make it through to the Round of 16 during the 2010 FIFA World Cup fans were ecstatic with their efforts which culminated in a 2-1 victory over France during their final Group A match.

It wasn't the first time South Africa has surprised the sporting world. Take the World Cup Rugby 1995, for instance. It was the first time South Africa was allowed to participate in this major sports event after an almost three year sports boycott. Against all expectations, South Africa, hosting the event for the very first time, won the Rugby World Cup.

South Africa's national soccer team were subjected to the same sports boycott and it was only in 1992, two years before apartheid was abolished, when the South Africa Football Association (SAFA) was welcomed back into the International Soccer Association FIFA.

In the years that followed, South Africa accomplished quite a lot when it comes to soccer. In 1997 South Africa was the first country to qualify for the world cup soccer. In 1998 South Africa became second in the African Cup of Nations and in 2002 Bafana Bafana made it to the World Cup Soccer in Japan and Korea.

The boys are starting to find their feet again, after what seemed like a never-ending slump, with a number of great performances during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Hopes are high for their performance against the USA.

Venue: Cape Town Stadium | Greenpoint | Cape Town
Date: 17th November 2010.
Time: Doors open at 18:30 and kick-off is at 21:30.
Tickets: R50 for the upper tier and R100 for the lower tier, available from Computicket.

Be sure to read Bafana Bafana Part 2: The History and Bafana Bafana Part 3: Accomplishment.