A history of Bafana in the Mother City

South Africa will play host 13th international match in Cape Town on Tuesday when they take on Panama in the second of two World Cup warm-up games this month.

The first one in Durban on Friday ended in a 1-1 draw.

Cape Town has had only a fraction of past Bafana Bafana matches in comparison to the country’s two other major footballing centres—Durban and Johannesburg. It even lags behind Gqeberha.

These are the 12 past Bafana Bafana matches that have been hosted in the Mother City.

9 July 1992 South Africa 1 Cameroon 2: Only the second-ever international for the new South African side against an under-strength Cameroon, who were invited for a three-match tour to celebrate the country’s return to the international fold. An own goal had South Africa ahead, but Cameroon equalised almost immediately and then, despite having two players sent off, snatched victory in the 87th minute.

18 September 1999 South Africa 1 Saudi Arabia 0: The first leg of the now defunct Afro-Asian Cup pitting the two continental champions. Pollen Ndlanya scored the only goal of the game at Newlands early in the second half for a 1-0 win, and a goalless draw in the return game two weeks later earned the South African side, captained by Mark Fish, the trophy.

30 April 2003 South Africa 0 Jamaica 0: A disappointing game at the Athlone Stadium, which was put together as part of South Africa’s effort to schmooze the Caribbean countries into voting for them in the World Cup bidding race. Shakes Mashaba was the coach, and he picked only local players for the clash with Brian Baloyi as the skipper.

9 September 2007 South Africa 1 Zambia 3: A disastrous game in the Cup of Nations qualifiers, although Bafana were already assured of a place at the 2008 finals. Carlos Alberto Parreira had no hesitation in taking Papi Zothwane off after 30 minutes at Newlands, after he kept losing the ball and Zambia kept punishing the side as a result, with Chris Katongo grabbing a hat-trick in double quick time.

17 November 2010 South Africa 0 USA 1: World Cup fever was still in the air as some 50 000 spectators went to the Cape Town Stadium for what was Bafana’s first match at the venue built for the 2010 finals. Juan Agudelo— six days shy of his 18th birthday— scored the only goal of the game in the 84th minute to spoil the home party as a youthful American side showed up the home team.

8 January 2013 South Africa 0 Norway 1: The Norwegian side was made up of only home-based players as they made use of their pre-season to give the national team a run-out. Bafana coach Gordon Igesund got a special presentation before the game from the visitors because of his Norwegian roots, but they were not generous in the game and won with a first-half goal from Morocco-born Tarik Elyounoussi.

23 March 2013 South Africa 2 Central African Republic 0: Only two months after their last visit, Bafana Bafana were back at the Cape Town Stadium for a World Cup qualifier against the Central African Republic, which saw Thabo Matlaba strike a goal for the ages and Bernard Parker add another in a one-sided showing that kept qualification hopes alive.

11 January 2014 South Africa 3 Mozambique 1: Matches in the African Nations Championship were elevated to A status, which meant the awarding of caps, despite the fact that team selection was restricted to home-based players only. The 2014 finals were hosted by South Africa, in place of Libya, and the hosts kicked off Group A with a win as Bernard Parker netted twice and Hlompho Kekana once.

15 January 2014 South Africa 1 Mali: Another successful penalty converted by Parker gave South Africa’s home-based team a halftime lead, but Mali hit back after the break to get a point. It added to the three points they had picked up four days earlier by upsetting Nigeria in their first game to take the share in the group standings with the hosts.

19 January 2014 South Africa 1 Nigeria 3: South Africa needed only a draw to advance to the semifinals of CHAN-2014 but were eliminated as Nigeria were two-up at halftime, then 3-0 ahead before Parker netted a consolation, again from the penalty spot. Two of the Nigerian goals came from Ejike Uzoenyi, who Mamelodi Sundowns then paid record money to sign but hardly ever used.

16 June 2015 South Africa 2 Angola 1: Bafana were in the doldrums under Shakes Mashaba, and this friendly international attracted only 8 000 spectators to the Cape Town Stadium. Angola took the lead, but Thamsanqa Gabuza ended the home team’s dry spell in front of goal by registering Bafana Bafana's first goal in four matches, before home boy Ayanda Patosi netted the winner for a first success in seven games.

19 November 2024 South Africa 3 South Sudan 0: Back in the Mother City after a nine-year absence, Bafana made sure they finished on top in their Cup of Nations qualifying group with a dominant victory in front of a full crowd.

Home town favourite Iqraam Rayners fired the team into the lead early with Patrick Maswanganyi doubling the advantage midway through the first half, finishing off a rebound after the visiting goalkeeper spilt a tame effort from Teboho Mokoena. After the interval, South Africa were awarded a penalty when Khuliso Mudau was fouled in the box, and Tebeho Mokoena tucked it away to make it 3-0.