After ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula thanked Bafana Bafana for their historic win against South Korea and that they did it for Africa, one social media user reminded the minister about his negative 2014 comments about the national soccer team.
Also see: Fikile Mbalula’s message to Bafana after win causes a stir
Fikile Mbalula disses Bafana Bafana
In his recent X post, after Bafana Bafana secured their place in the knockout stage for the first time, Mbalula wrote:
“We did it for Africa. Thank you, boys. You are special; you made it. Thank you, thank you.”
Seeing the comment, X user @Thee3nthusiasts shared a TikTok video of the minister not mincing his words at a press conference in Cape Town after Bafana Bafana lost against Nigeria during the 2014 African Nations Championship.
In the clip, the former Minister of Sports and Recreation told the media:
“What I saw was not a problem of coaching but a bunch of losers who don’t have any respect for this country… They [Nigeria] thought they were going to meet the lions whose stadium was filled to capacity to fight for their country, but what did they come to meet? Just a bunch of unbearable, useless individuals.”
@Thee3nthusiasts captioned the post, “When we do well it’s for Africa, but when we were deep in the trenches, you called us names.”
“Just a bunch of unbearable useless individuals” – Fikile Mbalula
When we do well it’s for Africa but when we were deep in the tranches you called us names. https://t.co/GoXKwcngaK pic.twitter.com/J4nfHB2NUR
— Frank ⭐⭐👆 (@Thee3nthusiasts) June 25, 2026
Also see: ‘I withdraw my words’ – Fikile Mbalula apologises to Motsepe
According to News24, at the time, Mbalula refused to shift the blame to former soccer player and Bafana Bafana coach Gordon Igesund.
“Let’s not jump at one man. SAFA [South African Football Association] must look at this thoroughly. Gordon is not the only problem in the team.” He added, “Some of the players think it is their right to be on the Bafana team. Some have been there but never won anything.
“We must forget this generation of players.”
In 2014, players such as Itumeleng Khune, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Moeneeb Josephs, and Sibusiso Vilakazi, to name a few, were on the squad.
Also see: Internet unimpressed with Fikile Mbalula’s congratulatory message to Makhadzi and Tyla
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