South African football enthusiasts flooded the streets early Thursday morning, cheering and sounding vuvuzelas to mark Bafana Bafana reaching the World Cup knockout stage for the first time. The squad surprised South Korea with a 1-0 victory on Wednesday, ensuring their advancement after an initial 2-0 defeat against Mexico.
As the final whistle blew around 5:00 am, residents—many still dressed in sleepwear—gathered outdoors to dance and sing. Nandi Ntini, a Soweto local, reported being roused from sleep by the noise of fireworks and horns. Fans expressed immense pride in their national team through social media videos, with one supporter declaring that the nation would see the tournament through to the end.
Crowds were captured on film singing the traditional Zulu chant Shosholoza, which signifies moving forward, while others danced in their night robes. President Cyril Ramaphosa lauded the team for their remarkable effort on social media, reinforcing a message of national unity and shared ambition.
