This article goes into showcasing Bafana Bafana top goal scorers in 2024. But first, let's delve into the matches they've played this year.
The South Africa national football team, Bafana Bafana, sparked brilliantly in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) where they clinched third place.
The team's shocking run in AFCON 2023 was down to crucial goals scored by their players of which we are going to list them in this piece.
Prior to the tournament, Hugo Broos‘ side drew goalless against Lesotho in their first match of 2024.
This created major concerns as fans, pundits and stakeholders of the team became skeptical about the players and how far they can go in the tournament that was just right around the corner.
South Africa were not among the pre-tournament favourites to get to the semi-finals of the competition, but Broos' charges did so despite a poor start.
Bafana Bafana AFCON 2023 run
After beginning their AFCON campaign with a 2-0 loss to Mali, the team bounced back with a convincing 4-0 thumping of neighbours Namibia in their second game before being held to a goalless draw against Tunisia in the last group game.
Bafana Bafana squared off against tournament favourites Morocco in the round of 16, a team which got to the semi-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
After a difficult first-half; the team knocked out the Atlas Lions through goals from Evidence Makgopa and Teboho Mokoena to book their place in the quarter-finals, a result which sent shockwaves around the world of football.
The quarter-final matchup with Cape Verde was even more eventful following a scoreless 120 minutes of football to bring the game to a penalty shootout.
Bafana Bafana captain and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams went on to script history with four consecutive shootout saves which aided the team's progression into the semi-finals.
With confidence high and a feeling they can win just their second AFCON trophy, South Africa held Nigeria to a 1-1 draw in regulation time but couldn't break down the Super Eagles in extra time which meant the game was decided in another penalty shootout.
This time though, South Africa weren't so lucky as Nigeria showcased penalty brilliance to beat Bafana Bafana during the penalty shootout.
Even though South Africa's AFCON 2023 journey was ended by Nigeria, the team got the flowers they deserved as nobody gave them a chance to get to the last four.
Broos' side finished the tournament with the bronze medal after edging out DR Congo on penalties in the third-place match.
But which Bafana Bafana player has scored the most goals in 2024 for the team?
South Africa recently played Andorra in a FIFA Series international friendly last Friday, 21 March which ended 1-1. They will also take on Algeria on Tuesday, March 26 to conclude their friendlies for the March international window.
And it ends level at Annaba Stadium pic.twitter.com/1HguFmlKcr
— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) March 21, 2024
Bafana Bafana top goal scorers in 2024
South Africa's Bafana Bafana have played nine matches so far in 2024. Seven in the AFCON, and two international friendlies.
Out of these nine games, goals were scored in five skirmishes by Bafana Bafana players.
It's worth mentioning that Percy Tau scored South Africa's first goal in 2024 before other players got their names on the score sheet for the Rainbow Nation.
Below is a list of Bafana Bafana top goal scorers in 2024:
- Themba Zwane – 2 goals
- Teboho Mokoena – 2 goals
- Percy Tau – 1 goal
- Thapelo Maseko – 1 goal
- Evidence Makgopa – 1 goal
- Elias Mokwana – 1 goal
This article was most recently revised and updated 8 months ago
