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Bafana Bafana arrived back on South African soil on Wednesday morning, with their AFCON journey ending sooner than hoped after a narrow defeat in Morocco.

The team touched down at OR Tambo International Airport following a 2–1 loss to Cameroon in the round of 16 (SABC), closing the chapter on a tournament that carried both expectation and belief.

The return was subdued, marked by quiet reflection rather than celebration. While the campaign fell short of its ultimate goal, there were moments of encouragement at the airport, where players and staff were met by Minister of Sport Gayton McKenzie and a small group of supporters offering words of support.

Head coach Hugo Broos acknowledged the disappointment of the early exit, describing the tournament as demanding both mentally and physically.

‘It was very tough after the game with Cameroon because I wanted to come back with a cup,’ Broos said. ‘Sometimes we need luck, maybe it wasn’t there against Cameroon because we played a good game, but we lost it.’

Broos also spoke candidly about the criticism that tends to follow defeat, noting that it comes with the territory.

‘You know, when you win a match, there are people who are against you and those people start talking when there’s defeat, and this happens now,’ he said.

Drawing on decades of experience, the coach added: ‘People are frustrated and start talking about everything. So, for me it’s something that I don’t even listen to or read.’

Scenes at OR Tambo reflected a mix of disappointment and solidarity. As reported by the Cape Times, McKenzie, draped in a South African flag, greeted players and members of the technical team with handshakes and embraces as they emerged from the arrivals terminal. A handful of supporters followed suit, offering applause in an attempt to lift spirits.

In a message shared on his X account, McKenzie wrote: ‘Our boys are gutted. Not succeeding is the best lesson. Rise above your own disappointment, boys. We love you and have full hope that Mexico will be set alight by you. True South Africans are behind you all the way. I’m glad I came to welcome you this morning.’

The Minister then commended the team for the commitment and composure they displayed throughout the tournament, highlighting their determination and the professionalism with which they represented the country.

The mood among players suggested an acute awareness that the campaign ended earlier than expected. Bafana had arrived in Morocco buoyed by a strong run of form, having gone 25 matches unbeaten, 26 overall, and were widely tipped to challenge for the title, which South Africa last lifted three decades ago.

However, the knockout stage proved unforgiving. Against Cameroon, Bafana failed to capitalise on early chances, missing three clear opportunities in the opening 20 minutes.

They conceded just before half-time and again shortly after the restart, leaving Evidence Makgopa’s late goal as little more than consolation.

Observers tracking the tournament noted that warning signs appeared earlier. While Bafana secured wins against Angola and Zimbabwe, those performances required significant effort.

They also struggled to manage a match against a 10-man Egypt, a game that drew attention for what were described as ‘controversial refereeing decisions’.

With international football resuming in March through friendly fixtures ahead of the Fifa World Cup in North America, attention now turns to recovery and regrouping.

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