“They Gave Us 7% Chance!” — Maseko

Bafana Bafana hero Thapelo Maseko has expressed his gratitude after playing a pivotal role in helping South Africa qualify for the Round of 32 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, saying that very few people believed the team would progress beyond the group stage.

Bafana Bafana became the second African nation and the 13th team overall to reach the knockout stages after defeating South Korea 1-0 at Estadio Monterrey on Thursday morning.

Maseko, who was a constant threat throughout the match, scored the only goal of the game as South Africa made history by advancing to the next round.

It came as no surprise when he was named Man of the Match, becoming the first South African player to receive the award at the tournament.

South Africa finished second in Group A with four points, while Mexico topped the group with a perfect nine points after defeating the Czech Republic in their final group-stage match.

On the African continent, Bafana Bafana join Morocco in the knockout rounds and will begin their Round of 32 campaign against co-hosts Canada in Los Angeles on Sunday.

It was a challenging group-stage campaign for Bafana. They opened with a defeat to Mexico before drawing with the Czech Republic, but delivered when it mattered most to secure qualification.

Maseko admitted he was still struggling to believe what the team had achieved and dedicated the qualification to both the supporters who stood by them and the doubters who underestimated their chances.

“It’s unbelievable, man. It feels like a dream, you know,” said Maseko, who was loaned out by Mamelodi Sundowns to AEL Limassol last season.

“Credit to all the guys and everyone involved today. Defensively, they gave everything, and this win is for those who supported us and even for those who didn’t support us.

“Honestly, people said we only had a seven percent chance of getting out of the group, and yet here we are.

“So, we’re thankful to everyone for the support back home, and we keep going.”

Maseko also responded to the criticism Bafana Bafana received during the group stage, insisting that the players never stopped believing in themselves.

“We’ve been through a couple of rough patches since the first game,” he said.

“The media was bashing us; we were all over the headlines. The memes were trending, but this team showed what it is capable of. We are strong, and we have the mentality to overcome challenges.”

The former SuperSport United winger had a final message for South Africans who stayed awake through the night to support the team.

“Thank you, and enjoy,” he said.