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.
Episodes
Bafana bruised but a World Cup for the books, and what's next for Hugo Broos?
That's it, our World Cup journey ends with a last minute Canada goal sealing our boys' fate. But it's still been a tournament for the books for Bafana who shocked many by reaching the knockout stages for the very first time. News24's football journos Njabulo Ngidi, who's been in the US and Mexico for the games, and Tashreeq Vardien, take a hard look back at the past few weeks that were. And what a
History triumphant! Bafana brace for plucky co-hosts Canada
Can you feel it? It is here! Still celebrating their first breakout to the FIFA World Cup knockouts, Bafana Bafana brace for a Sunday night standoff with tournament co-hosts, the plucky Canadians. News24 football journalist Njabulo Ngidi's following the boys in yellow and green, finding a gap in their busy schedule to sit down with his Cape Town counterpart, Tashreeq Vardien. Enjoy the show, and t
How SAFA made Atlanta feel like 'home' in epic Czechia draw
News24 Sport’s Tashreeq Vardien checks in with senior football writer Njabulo Ngidi, live in North America, following Bafana Bafana’s nail-biting 1-1 draw with Czechia keeps their knockout hopes alive. The pair unpack Atlanta’s surprising South African support and SAFA’s role in building a great crowd atmosphere. Expect fresh episodes every week of the tournament, wherever you get your podcasts.
A World Cup date with Czechia, and where FIFA's got it all wrong
News24 football journalists Tashreeq Vardien and Njabulo Ngidi catch-up ahead of Bafana's second pool clash with Czechia. Ngidi crosses live from Atlanta in the US, the next destination on the boys' 2026 FIFA World Cup journey. Expect fresh episodes every week of the tournament, wherever you get your podcasts.
Bafana’s World Cup dream flickers
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 take on 'El-Tri' in a reversal match of their 2010 clash at Soccer City in Johannesburg.
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 Tashreeq Vardien reflect on what was comfortably the best-ever Afcon tournament.
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 third-place play-off against the Democratic Republic of Congo.News24 Sport's Tashreeq Vardien, Khanyiso
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 ease tensions ahead of one of the continent's biggest grudge matches.
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 Sunday's heart-stopping win.
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 take any risks against them. Today, former Bafana Bafana, Kaizer Chiefs, and SuperSport United coach Stuart Baxter - w
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 back at a monumental and heartwarming victory.
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 gain. Listen to News24 Sport's Khanyiso Tshwaku, Njabulo Ngidi and Tashreeq Vardien as they discuss They B
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 sub-plot.
Listen to News24 Sport's Khanyiso Tshwaku and Njabulo Ngidi as they discuss Bafana's performance.
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 the pressure of what is essentially a knockout game? Listen to News24 Sport's Khanyiso Tshwaku, Njabulo Ngidi and Tashreeq Vardien as th
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 to be improved for a stiffer Tunisia match on Wednesday? Listen to News24 Sport's Khanyiso Tshwaku, Tashreeq Vardi
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 games in 18 years.
News24 Sport's Khanyiso Tshwaku, Tashreeq Vardien and Njabulo Ngidi discusse
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 games in 18 years. News24 Sport's Khanyiso Tshwaku, Tashreeq Vardien and Njabulo Ngidi discuss the
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 analysis of Bafana's performance in one of Africa's biggest tournaments. Weekly, News24's sports reporters Khanyiso Tshwaku, N
