SAFA Revives Bafana’s Iconic 1996 AFCON Jersey—With A Premium Twist

The South African Football Association (SAFA) has announced the official return of the iconic 1996 Heritage Kit.

Representing Bafana Bafana’s most celebrated era, the jersey has been reinterpreted as a premium, official knitted release for 2026.

As the sole custodian of the intellectual property, SAFA approved the production and retail of this historic release under its official licensing program, partnering with premium leisurewear brand Old School. The SAFA Heritage Kit bridges the historic moment the current Bafana Bafana generation is stepping into with the legendary era that first made the football world take notice.

The original 1996 jersey is inseparable from the greatest chapter in South African football, famously worn during the build-up to the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations triumph on home soil. Beyond the trophies, South Africans remember the spirit of that era: a team that played with absolute joy, a nation united in belief, and a green-and-gold shirt that became an enduring national symbol.

That jersey never truly faded. It lives on in photographs, vintage highlight reels, and the nostalgic conversations of fans who fell in love with Bafana Bafana. Now, thirty years later, as this generation prepares to carry the green and gold onto the world stage once again, SAFA is officially bringing it back.

The 2026 version is a premium reinterpretation rather than a standard replica. SAFA authorized Old School to craft a high-quality knitted soccer jersey that stays true to the look and texture of the original era while meeting modern luxury standards. The result is a piece of heritage that supporters can wear with the same pride as the legends who first pulled on the colors three decades ago.

Product Specifications & Release Details

• Official Status: Fully SAFA-licensed product, manufactured by Old School.
• Construction: Premium knitted fabrication—a contemporary reimagining of the original 1996 Away and Third designs.
• Sizing: Available from XS to 3XL.
• Pricing: Retailing from R1,999.
• Availability: On sale since 4 June, through official Bafana Bafana and SAFA channels, as well as Old School retail stores and their online platform.

SAFA CEO Lydia Monyepao:

“SAFA has revived its official licensing programme to enable production of Bafana Bafana supporter gear by various manufacturers at varied price points. As Bafana head to the World Cup, we wanted to give supporters something that connects this moment to where it all started. The 1996 Heritage Kit represents a chapter of South African football that means everything to this country. Bringing it back felt like the right way to honour that history and celebrate what lies ahead. We urge the public to look out for unauthorised products by checking if it has the SAFA marks and an official license tags to ensure that they buy products that support football.”

Old School CEO Daneel Steinmann:

“There is nothing in this country quite like a national football match. It does not matter where you are from or what language you speak – when Bafana walk out in green and gold, we are one people. That is the feeling Old School was built to carry. When you put on the iconic heritage jersey, you’re wearing something unmistakably South African, and the fact that Old School gets to champion this new era for South African football is incredibly special.”