Bafana Bafana return home to heroes' welcome!

Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport was packed with flag-waving and vuvuzela-blowing fans before sunrise on Thursday morning as Bafana Bafana arrived home following a historic World Cup 2026 campaign.

Having reached the knockout stages of the tournament for the first time in South Africa's history, Hugo Broos' side returned to a hero's welcome after ending a 16-year wait for a World Cup appearance and capturing the imagination of a nation along the way.

From Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie and coach Hugo Broos to goal-scoring heroes Thapelo Maseko and Teboho Mokoena, the arrivals hall was awash with song, celebration and national pride. Even Super-fan Mama Joy Chauke was on hand to welcome the squad home.

The reception was a fitting tribute to a team that overcame qualification drama, defied expectations on the world stage and delivered one of the most memorable chapters in South African football history.

The mood at OR Tambo was less about a tournament exit and more about a nation celebrating a team that made history! 

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