BAFANA TRIP TO DOHA LOOKING MORE AND MORE CERTAIN

DARE we dream that Bafana Bafana can qualify for the 2022 Fifa World Cup? Yes, we can!

The courageous performances from the South African national football team in beating Ethiopia twice in the World Cup qualifiers this past week has given fans renewed hope that Bafana will be on a plane to Doha next year.

Talking about planes, memes going around on social media this week saw supporters looking for cheap flights from South Africa to Qatar next year.

Such was the joy that emanated from the victories.

Bafana are at the top of Group G, with 10 points, one ahead of Ghana, with two more matches to go – against Zimbabwe on November 11 in South Africa, and away to Ghana on November 14. Effectively, their fate is in their own hands: win both remaining matches and they will go through to the final round of qualifying.

Yes, there will be one last hurdle to make it to Qatar 2022 – the last 10 remaining teams, who are the group winners, will square off in home-andaway matches, with the five winners qualifying for the World Cup.

With Bafana’s previous appearance at the showpiece tournament in 2010, when they qualified automatically as hosts, the fans’ excitement was understandable.

What makes the current campaign even more fascinating, though, is the fact that new coach Hugo Broos has brought in several fresh faces and changed the attitude of the team.

The Belgian made some big selection calls by leaving out former captain Thulani Hlatshwayo and a host of other established players – although Percy Tau was out with a hamstring injury – and rather picked the best talent.

It was a calculated gamble, but it paid off handsomely as Bafana won 3-1 in Ethiopia last Saturday and 1-0 at the FNB Stadium on Tuesday.

Young striker Evidence Makgopa scored in the first match, and Bongokuhle Hlongwane, Yusuf Maart and Rushine de Reuck all impressed, along with goalkeeper and new captain Ronwen Williams.

That bodes well for the rest of the qualifying campaign, and the future of Bafana Bafana.