Bafana fans to Africa fans

Bafana Bafana's chances of qualifying for the 2010 African Nations Cup appear to be in tatters. But even if South Africa fails to get past the first round of the 2010 Fifa World Cup - as many now fear they will - there will still be plenty for the country's passionate football fans to shout for.

African champions

When South Africa hosted the 1996 African Nations Cup, however, South Africa proved they belonged in the finals by defeating Tunisia 2-0 in the final. It was during the team's run to the title that its nickname, "Bafana Bafana", became known around the world.

Nelson Mandela leads the celebrations as Neil Tovey lifts the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations.

Shortly after being crowned African champions, Bafana Bafana took on world champions Brazil in Johannesburg. Buoyed by a fearless home crowd, the South Africans went two goals up before the Brazilians fought back to win the match 3-2.

BAFANA BAFANA

One of the first gifts that democracy brought South Africa was its first truly representative national soccer team.

In 1992, the united South African team came into being, playing Cameroon in its first match in Durban on 9 July. It was a triumphant occasion for the side that came to be known as Bafana Bafana - "The Boys" - as they edged the West African powerhouse by a goal to nil.

However, the win concealed the negative effect that apartheid-enforced isolation had had on local soccer. This lack of international experience showed as South Africa lost four matches in a row - to Cameroon, Zambia, Nigeria and Zambia - in failing to qualify for the 1994 African Nations Cup.

Bafana Bafana against Australia's Socceroos

It was confirmed on Wednesday by Safa CEO Raymond Hack from Switzerland that Bafana Bafana will play against Australia's Socceroos in England on August 19.

Bafana Bafana not scared of Nigeria

Bafana Bafana's hard tackling midfielder, Lance Davids, will not be star-struck when he lines up against Nigeria in what could be the biggest match of his career in Abuja on Sunday. Kick-off is at 17:00 South African time.

The 23-year-old Cape Town-born Davids who plays for leading Swedish club Djurgardens, is one of the promising stars who local fans are hoping will set the 2010 Soccer World Cup finals alight.

Davids showed glimpses of his potential when he played a couple of impressive cameo roles under former Bafana head coach Carlos Alberto Parreira at the African Cup of Nations staged in January.

But the prospect of playing against the likes of Super Eagles skipper and top striker, Nwankwo Kanu, his Portsmouth teammate John Utaka who helped their English Premiership club lift the FA Cup at Wembley earlier this month, adds to the excitement of this clash between fierce African rivals.