Watch VideoWhere I was when Bafana Bafana won Afcon 1996: A 10-year-old’s memory of a nation united

A 10-year-old’s vivid memory of Bafana Bafana’s 1996 Afcon victory highlights a nation united in celebration, marked by Mark Williams’ goals, Mandela’s iconic trophy presentation, and the overwhelming sense of pride and belonging. Picture: Michael Sherman/IOL February 3, 1996 remains one of the most significant days in South African football history — and one I experienced firsthand as a wide-eyed 10-year-old at theAfrica Cup of Nations(Afcon) final at FNB Stadium. I burst out of bed that Saturday morning, a bundle of nerves, knowing there were just hours to go before my older brother and cousin would head down the road to watch theAfrica Cup of Nationsfinal betweenBafana Bafanaand Tunsia.

I quickly forgave myself. What 10-year-old, sports-mad boy wouldn’t? The names of Bafana stars rolled effortlessly off my tongue —Arendse,De Sa,Fish, ‘Shoes’,Tovey,Williams,Radebe— repeated to anyone who would listen, whether they cared or not.

At the time, we lived in Mondeor, in southern Johannesburg — less than five minutes from Soweto. Even closer stood the imposing FNB Stadium, still known to many as Soccer City. I’d already attended one of Bafana Bafana’s earlier matches in the tournament: the opening game against Cameroon, a famous 3-0 win.

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It was my first time watching South Africa’s national football team live. A rugby die-hard until then, I fell in love with football that day. The Springboks had won the Rugby World Cup in 1995 — why couldn’t Bafana lift Afcon a year later?

At least, that’s how it made sense to me. Eventually, it was time to drive to the stadium in our old, battered Mini — my 22-year-old brother, 13-year-old cousin, and I crammed inside. My brother deserves credit for indoctrinating me in rugby, football, and cricket.

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