Gayton McKenzie rallies Bafana Bafana during low-key homecoming after AFCON heartbreak

Minister of Sport Gayton McKenzie and a handful of Bafana Bafana supporters tried to make the team’s arrival at OR Tambo International Airport following their disappointing AFCON campaign a bit more bearable on Wednesday morning.

As the team exited through the arrivals terminal, McKenzie, who was draped in a South African flag, embraced members of the technical team and players, shaking hands and offering words of encouragement.

McKenzie’s gestures were echoed by some fans, who offered the team a round of applause in an attempt to wipe away the disappointment written all over their faces.

In a post on his X account (formerly known as Twitter), McKenzie shared a video of himself welcoming the team and captioned it:

“Our boys are gutted. Not succeeding is the best lesson. Rise above your own disappointment, boys. We love you and have full hope that Mexico will be set alight by you. True South Africans are behind you all the way. I’m glad I came to welcome you this morning.”

Bafana were evidently low in spirit, knowing that their return from the tournament was premature after leaving with high expectations of not only competing but winning the trophy for the first time in 30 years.

Following an unbeaten run of 25 games — and 26 overall — Bafana had been riding high en route to Morocco. However, they disappointed when it mattered most, bowing out in the last 16 after a 2–1 loss to Cameroon.

They were their own worst enemies in that match, wasting three clear-cut chances in the first 20 minutes to take the lead, only to concede on the stroke of half-time and early in the second half, with Evidence Makgopa’s consolation goal proving insufficient.

However, many discerning observers argued that Bafana were simply off-beat from the outset of the group stage. They had to dig deep to secure wins against Angola and Zimbabwe, while struggling to salvage a result against a 10-man Egypt amid “controversial refereeing decisions”.

With the team set to return to action in March for friendly matches ahead of the Fifa World Cup in North America, Bafana need to fully recharge and deliver an improved performance on the global stage.

Should they fail to do so, they run the risk of sneaking back into OR Tambo with neither the Minister of Sport nor a handful of supporters there to welcome them home.