Bathathe Bafana: South Africa's World Cup journey
Welcome to Bathathe Bafana, a new podcast from News24 that analyses Bafana Bafana's performance in the 2026 World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico.
15 Episodes
Bafana’s World Cup dream flickers: Bathathe Bafana South Africa's World Cup journey Ep 1
News24's Tashreeq Vardien is joined by senior football writer Njabulo Ngidi, live from the FIFA World Cup, to dissect Bafana Bafana's loss to Mexico. From the missed chances to the bigger picture, they break down what went wrong against 'El-Tri' — and what needs to happen next.
Why Bafana's trip matters
Join News24 Sport Editor, Lloyd Burnard, and football journalist, Tashreeq Vardien, in conversation on the eve of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico. They make the case that it's up to every South African to rally behind the boys in yellow and green as they…
Bathathe Bafana: Ep 13 - Ivory Coast clinches Afcon title as Bafana finishes third
Ivory Coast not only became the first host nation to win the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) since Egypt in 2006 but did so in a scarcely believable manner, having trailed in every knockout game, while Bafana finished in a creditable third place. News24 Sport's Khanyiso Tshwaku, Njabulo Ngidi and…
Bathathe Bafana: Ep 12 - Brave Bafana beaten, but certainly not broken as DRC clash looms
Bafana Bafana may have lost Wednesday's 2023 Africa Cup of Nations semi-final clash against Nigeria on penalties, but they showed what they're capable of and what'll be expected of them when they return to World Cup qualifiers. The defeat hurt, but the pieces need to be picked up for Saturday's…
Bathathe Bafana: Ep 11 - SA, Nigeria resume Afcon rivalry in semi-final face-off
The countdown to the 19:00 kick-off for the first semi-final of the 2023 African Cup of Nations between South Africa and Nigeria in Bouake has moved into overdrive as nerves in both countries get shredded. Khanyiso Tshwaku, Njabulo Ngidi, Tashreeq Vardien and Nigerian football scribe Chisom Mbonu Ezeoke seek to…
Bathathe Bafana: Ep 10 - SA on Super Eagle hunt after successful Blue Shark foray
Thanks to Ronwen Williams' penalty heroics on Saturday, Bafana Bafana qualified for the semifinals of the 2023 African Cup of Nations. The Boys will face Nigeria in Bouake on Wednesday. Njabulo Ngidi and Tashreeq Vardien are joined by Soccer Laduma senior sports reporter Tshepang Mailwane as they look back on…
Bathathe Bafana: Ep 9 - SA faces Cape Verde examination as crunch Afcon quarter-final beckons
Bafana Bafana will cross paths with Cape Verde, a team that’s caused them trouble over the years when they meet at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium in Yamoussoukro at 10pm on Saturday. The Cape Verde beat South Africa twice in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers in 2017, meaning SA can’t…
Bathathe Bafana: Ep 8 - Onward march into the final 8 for The Boys after defeating Morocco
Bafana Bafana followed the exciting 2023 Afcon script by rubbishing the favourites tag after dumping 2022 World Cup bronze medalists Morocco out of the tournament with a clinical 2-0 win in San Pedro on Tuesday. News24 Sport's Njabulo Ngidi, Tashreeq Vardien and SABC multi-award winning sport journalist Velile Mnyandu look…
Bathathe Bafana: Ep 7 - Morocco stand in the way of Bafana's Afcon dream
Morocco and Bafana Bafana will face off on Tuesday night in San Pedro, with the Atlas Lions standing tall as formidable foes that Bafana has beaten before. This clash will have everything riding on it, with one team, Morocco, having everything to lose and prove, while Bafana has everything to…
Bathathe Bafana: Ep 6 - Three cheers for Bafana as crunch last 16 clash beckons
Bafana Bafana showed unfamiliar yet necessary resilience to hold Tunisia to a goalless draw that not only allowed them to finish second in Group E but also book a highly charged clash against Morocco in Yamoussoukro on Tuesday, as a tournament with so many twists and turns opens up another…
Bathathe Bafana: Ep 5 - Now's the time - it's Tunisia time, it's crunch time
Bafana Bafana have to walk the crucible of a must-win Group E African Cup of Nations clash when they face Tunisia in Korhogo. Bafana need to either win or draw to progress to the round of 16, while Tunisia need to win to stay alive. Can Bafana absorb and transfer…
Bathathe Bafana: Ep 4 - Four reasons and more to celebrate as Bafana right Mali wrongs
Not once, twice, but four times did Bafana Bafana provide the necessary joy by finding the back of the net in what was easily their best Afcon performance since the 2000 quarter-final against Ghana when they clattered Namibia 4-0 in Korhogo. What went right in this game and what needs…
Bathathe Bafana: Ep 3 - Up next, Namibia! Voice of Afcon Mark Gleeson dissects crucial match
Bafana Bafana, as they've always had since 2006, fluffed their opening game lines in losing 2-0 to Mali in Korhogo on Tuesday night. Percy Tau missed an 18th-minute penalty before goals from Hamarai Traore and Lassine Sinayoko buried Hugo Broos' side, condemning Bafana to a fourth loss in six opening…
Bathathe Bafana: Ep 2 - Where The Boys went wrong in Afcon opener loss against Mali
Bafana Bafana, as they’ve always had since 2006, fluffed their opening game lines in losing 2-0 to Mali in Korhogo on Tuesday night. Percy Tau missed an 18th-minute penalty before goals from Hamarai Traore and Lassine Sinayoko buried Hugo Broos' side, condemning Bafana to a fourth loss in six opening…
Bathathe Bafana: EP 1 - South Africa's road to Afcon
South Africa's Africa Cup of Nations campaign starts on Tuesday night, when Bafana Bafana face Mali in their Group E meeting in Korhogo. All eyes will be on them to see whether they can progress past the quarterfinals for the first time in 24 years. Join us for an in-depth…