All-time Dream team squads
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🏆 South Africa All-time National football Dream team Squads

Trophy Dream Team A (4-3-3)

GK
Patson Banda
Patson Banda
South Africa

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GK
Patson Banda
Patson Banda
South Africa
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RB
Sizwe Motaung
Sizwe Motaung
South Africa

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RB
Sizwe Motaung
Sizwe Motaung
South Africa
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CB
Lucas Radebe
Lucas Radebe
South Africa

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CB
Lucas Radebe
Lucas Radebe
South Africa
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CB
Mark Fish
Mark Fish
South Africa

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CB
Mark Fish
Mark Fish
South Africa
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LB
David Nyathi
David Nyathi
South Africa

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LB
David Nyathi
David Nyathi
South Africa
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CM
John Moshoeu
John Moshoeu
South Africa

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CM
John Moshoeu
John Moshoeu
South Africa
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СM
Doctor Khumalo
Doctor Khumalo
South Africa

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СM
Doctor Khumalo
Doctor Khumalo
South Africa
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OM
Patrick Ntsoelengoe
Patrick Ntsoelengoe
South Africa

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OM
Patrick Ntsoelengoe
Patrick Ntsoelengoe
South Africa
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FW
Benni McCarthy
Benni McCarthy
South Africa

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FW
Benni McCarthy
Benni McCarthy
South Africa
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FW
Kaizer Motaung
Kaizer Motaung
South Africa

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FW
Kaizer Motaung
Kaizer Motaung
South Africa
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FW
Jomo Sono
Jomo Sono
South Africa

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FW
Jomo Sono
Jomo Sono
South Africa
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📄 Summary

South Africa national football team Emblem
The South Africa national soccer team represents South Africa in men's international soccer and is run by the South African Football Association, the governing body for soccer in South Africa. Nicknamed Bafana Bafana (The Boys in Zulu), the team's home ground is FNB Stadium, which is located in Johannesburg. The team is a member of both FIFA and Confederation of African Football (CAF). The team is one of the most well-supported national sides in Africa, and are recognized by their traditional yellow-green kits.

Having played their first match in 1906, South Africa returned to the world stage in 1992, after sixteen years of being banned from FIFA, and forty years of effective suspension due to the apartheid system. South Africa have qualified for the FIFA World Cup three times: 1998, 2002, and 2010, when it hosted the tournament, becoming the first African nation to do so. Despite defeating France 2–1 in their final game of the group stage, they failed to progress from the first round of the tournament, becoming the first host nation in the history of the FIFA World Cup to exit in the group stage, followed by Qatar in 2022. As of December 2024, the team is ranked 10th in Africa (CAF) and 57th in FIFA overall.

South Africa's most significant achievement came in 1996 when they hosted and won the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). They reached the final again in 1998 but were defeated by Egypt.

Some of the most notable players in Bafana Bafana's history include Benni McCarthy, the team's top scorer with 31 goals, and Aaron Mokoena, who holds the record for the most caps with 107 appearances. Other significant players include Lucas Radebe, Doctor Khumalo, and Itumeleng Khune.

▤ Read more New Window ▤ Current squad →

When selecting players for an all-time soccer dream team, several key criteria are typically considered:

Performance and Achievements

Individual accolades: Ballon d'Or awards, FIFA World Player of the Year titles, and other prestigious individual honors.

Team success: Contributions to World Cup victories, Champions League titles, and other major tournament wins.

Statistical excellence: Goals scored, assists provided, clean sheets kept, and other relevant performance metrics.

Skill and Ability

Technical prowess: Exceptional dribbling, passing, shooting, and ball control abilities1.

Tactical understanding: Positional awareness, game intelligence, and strategic decision-making.

Physical attributes: Speed, strength, agility, and endurance appropriate for their position.

Historical Impact and Legacy

Longevity: Consistent performance at the highest level over an extended period.

Influence: Impact on the game's evolution and inspiration to future generations.

Reputation: Recognition by peers, experts, and fans as one of the greatest in their position.

Team Composition

Positional balance: Ensuring representation across all key positions on the field.

Tactical compatibility: Selecting players who could theoretically work well together in a cohesive system.

Era representation: Including players from different time periods to create a truly all-time team.

Selection Process

Expert panel: Often involves a group of knowledgeable journalists, former players, or coaches.

Voting system: May use a points-based voting system to rank players across different eras.

Consideration of different leagues and nationalities to ensure a global representation.

It's important to note that the selection of an all-time dream team is inherently subjective and can vary based on the specific criteria emphasized by the selectors. The Ballon d'Or Dream Team, for example, was voted on by 170 journalists worldwide, showcasing the collaborative nature of such selections.

▤ Ballon d'Or Dream Team →

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