WATCH | ‘Our flag is flying high’: Ramaphosa leads national support for Bafana’s World Cup charge

Ramaphosa

Pretoria – President Cyril Ramaphosa and the South African government have rallied behind Bafana Bafana ahead of their historic FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout clash against Canada, calling on citizens to unite and support the national team.

Bafana will face Canada in the round of 32 at Los Angeles Stadium on Sunday, marking the first time South Africa has progressed beyond the World Cup group stages.

Ramaphosa encouraged South Africans to wear national colours and show their support, saying the team has made the country proud by putting the South African flag “very high” on the global football stage.

“At 9pm. 
South African time, Bafana Bafana will put our whole country and our entire nation on a global map once again. But this time, they are doing it as one of the top 32 football teams in the world, playing against Canada.

“I want to wish them every luck, they have really made us proud. They’ve played extremely well, and for the first time, the South African flag on the world football stage is flying very high,” Ramaphosa said.

The president expressed confidence that Bafana would defeat Canada and advance to the last 16, urging the nation to stand behind the players.

He added that he would speak with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney ahead of the match, joking that South Africa was determined to claim victory.

Bafana’s historic qualification was secured after a 1-0 win over South Korea, a result coach Hugo Broos described as a “little miracle” as the team reached the knockout stage of a World Cup for the first time.

Article written by