After the Mali loss, Minister Kodwa spoke to the Bafana players in the change room, providing words of encouragement and affirmation following their 4-2 penalty loss and the unfortunate red card for defender Grant Kekana. He praised the team, stating that the country is proud of them and looks forward to welcoming them home, with the President planning to do so in the usual manner for national teams.
Minister Kodwa expressed gratitude to the players for their sacrifices and commended them for being an inspiration to many young people from areas such as Mdantsane, Soweto, and Mamelodi. He anticipated their return home and congratulated them on their remarkable performance, emphasizing that they have exceeded expectations and have laid a solid foundation for the next World Cup.
The Minister’s full speech can be viewed in the tweet embedded in the text. The tweet acknowledges the Bafana Bafana team’s valiant efforts at AFCON and praises them for their performances, highlighting that they have provided a foundation for the next World Cup.