OR Tambo International Airport became a sea of green and gold as Bafana Bafana touched down to a thunderous reception, their World Cup journey ending earlier than they had hoped but igniting rare national pride.

South Africa’s round of 32 exit, sealed by a narrow 1-0 defeat to Canada in Los Angeles, did little to dampen the mood among the thousands who crammed into the arrivals hall. Songs, ululations and the rhythmic blast of vuvuzelas rolled through the terminal as supporters jostled for a glimpse of their returning heroes.

At the centre of the crush was midfielder Teboho Mokoena, whose composed penalty in a 1-1 draw with Czechia delivered Bafana’s first ever World Cup point on foreign soil. Security and police struggled to clear a path as fans surged forward, thrusting flags, replica shirts and homemade banners toward the players.

The squad’s reception reflected the significance of their achievement. For the first time in history, South Africa had reached the knockout phase of a FIFA World Cup, a milestone that resonated far beyond the final scoreline of their last match.

Coach Hugo Broos and his players had endured a rocky start, opening their campaign with a 2-0 defeat to Mexico in Mexico City. The draw against Czechia in Atlanta steadied nerves and shifted momentum, before a disciplined 1-0 victory over South Korea in Monterrey, secured by Thapelo Maseko’s decisive strike, propelled them into the round of 32.

Against Canada, Bafana held firm for long periods, only to be undone by a stoppage-time winner from Stephen Eustáquio. While Jesse Marsch’s side moved on to a round of 16 clash with Morocco, South Africa returned home with their heads high and their reputation enhanced.

Notably absent from the homecoming was teenage sensation Relebohile Mofokeng. The Orlando Pirates winger has travelled to Belgium to undergo a medical with Royale Union Saint-Gilloise after the clubs agreed a transfer in principle before the tournament. His club and international teammate Oswin Appollis, another rising star linked with a move abroad, was also missing from the group that walked through arrivals.

For those who did make the journey back, the message from the public was unmistakable. The team that once struggled to fill stadiums had reconnected with a nation, and the roar that greeted them at OR Tambo suggested that, despite elimination, Bafana Bafana’s World Cup may be remembered as a beginning rather than an end.