- Real Betis players performed a celebration linked to Bafana Bafana's iconic 2010 FIFA World Cup moment after beating FC Porto
- The Spanish side came from behind to defeat the Portuguese giants 3-2 in the UEFA Champions League in Seville on Wednesday
- The tribute sparked nostalgia among South Africans, recalling one of the country's greatest sporting moments
Real Betis handed South African football fans an unexpected trip down memory lane after their players paid tribute to Siphiwe Tshabalala's famous 2010 FIFA World Cup goal celebration following a dramatic UEFA Champions League victory on Wednesday night.
The Spanish La Liga side defeated FC Porto 3-2 at the Estadio de La Cartuja in Seville, overturning a deficit to stun the Portuguese club. After the final whistle, Betis' players performed the celebration synonymous with Tshabalala's strike for Bafana Bafana against Mexico at Soccer City on 11 June 2010, a goal that remains one of the most cherished in South African sporting history.
Tshabalala's strike that stopped a nation
The left winger's thunderous effort opened the scoring in South Africa's group-stage encounter with Mexico, sending Soccer City and the country into a frenzy.
The match ultimately ended 1-1 after Mexico equalised late, but the moment endured. South Africa made history as the first African nation to host the FIFA World Cup that year.
Real Betis' decision to honour that celebration brought those memories flooding back for Bafana Bafana supporters watching from home.
Bafana's Journey Since 2010
After the 2010 tournament, South Africa missed three consecutive World Cups — the 2014 edition in Brazil, 2018 in Russia and 2022 in Qatar. The nation returned to the global stage this year, participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Bafana Bafana made history at the 2026 edition by advancing to the round of 32, having beaten South Korea 1-0 following an opening 2-0 loss to Mexico and a 1-1 draw with the Czech Republic. Their campaign ended with a narrow 1-0 defeat to Canada in the last 32.
AFCON Qualifiers on the Horizon
Pitso Mosimane's side are also building towards the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, to be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania in June 2027. South Africa opened their qualifying campaign with wins over Guinea (2-1) and Eritrea (5-0).
Their next qualifiers are against Kenya, with a home fixture on 11 November 2026 followed by an away match on 15 November 2026. Further group games against Guinea and Eritrea are scheduled for March 2027.
Source: Briefly News
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