With Bafana Bafana nominated for the prestigious CAF National Team of the
Year award, PSLSA breaks down the formidable field of contenders and
assesses South Africa’s chances of claiming the prize.
The competition is fierce, with nominees showcasing remarkable
achievements over the past year. Here’s a look at the contenders:
- Algeria: Revitalized under coach Vladimir Petkovic, they qualified
unbeaten for the Africa Cup of Nations and will return to the World Cup
for the first time since 2014. - Cape Verde: The Blue Sharks made history by clinching their first-ever
World Cup qualification, topping a group containing Cameroon. The island
nation (pop. ~550,000) became the second-smallest by population to ever
qualify. - Egypt: The Pharaohs powered through their World Cup qualifying group
unbeaten, with their success also earning coach Hossam Hassan a
nomination for Coach of the Year. - Ghana: In a tale of two tales, the Black Stars failed to qualify for
AFCON 2025 but made history as Otto Addo became the first Ghanaian coach
to lead them to two successive World Cups. - Ivory Coast: Enjoyed a flawless World Cup qualifying campaign, booking
their return to the global stage for the first time since 2014 without a
single loss or a goal conceded. - Morocco: A standout nominee, the Atlas Lions were the first African
nation to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. They also set a new world
record for consecutive wins (16), eclipsing the previous record held by
Spain and Germany. - Morocco U20: This team made history by winning the FIFA U20 World Cup,
becoming only the second African nation and the first Arab nation to
lift the trophy at that level. - Senegal: Qualified for the World Cup and currently hold the world’s
longest active unbeaten run. They also created headlines by becoming the
first African nation to beat England, with a famous 3-1 friendly
victory. - Tunisia: Also had a perfect qualifying run, finishing top of their
group without a loss and without conceding a single goal.
Where Does Bafana Bafana Stand?
South Africa’s nomination is well-deserved. Under Hugo Broos, the team is
one of only three national teams in the world, alongside Senegal and
Spain, on an unbeaten streak stretching over a year. They qualified for
AFCON unbeaten and, crucially, clinched a spot in the 2026 World Cup—their
first qualification on merit since 2002.
Verdict:
While Bafana Bafana’s resurgence is a fantastic story, the competition is
incredibly strong. Morocco’s world-record winning streak and historic U20
World Cup victory make them a formidable front-runner. Teams like Senegal
(with their unbeaten run and win over England) and Ivory Coast (with a
perfect qualifying record) also present compelling cases.
South Africa’s return to the world stage is a monumental achievement that
cements their place among Africa’s elite. However, winning the award
against such historic accomplishments from their rivals will be a
significant challenge.
