Bafana Bafana have the chance to achieve a rare feat and something they have not managed in 11 years when they take on tiny Andorra in an international friendly in neutral Algeria on Thursday night.
Catch the action live on SuperSport at 23:00 CAT.
They have only 10 victories against European nations in 43 matches against teams from that continent, the last their famous 1-0 home success against then world champions Spain at FNB Stadium in 2013.
We round up the 10 times they have been on the right side of the scoreline against European nations.
SOUTH AFRICA 1-0 SWEDEN
November 27, 1999
It took Bafana seven years after readmission to international football to secure a win against a European opponent and it came in a friendly with Sweden in Pretoria as Siyabonga Nomvethe’s 87th-minute goal sealed the deal for coach Trott Moloto’s side.
MALTA 0-1 SOUTH AFRICA
May 28, 2000
They did not have to wait long for their second victory as skipper Thabo Mngomeni scored the only goal on 89 minutes to claim a win against the Maltese. This was therefore the first away victory against European opposition. Jacob Lekgetho made his debut in this game.
SCOTLAND 0-2 SOUTH AFRICA
May 20, 2002
This clash was a warm-up for the 2002 World Cup and was played in Hong Kong during the reunification Cup. Bafana were full value for the win as goals from Teboho Mokoena and George Koumantarakis saw off the Scots in front of a bumper crowd of 3 007.
TURKEY 0-2 SOUTH AFRICA
May 23, 2002
A few days later and Bafana saw off Turkey too in the same competition, an excellent set of results ahead of the World Cup that should have been a springboard for a knockout stage place. This time it was a double in the second half from Benni McCarthy that sealed the win. The game was officiated by the excellently named Fong Yau Fat.
SLOVENIA 0-1 SOUTH AFRICA
June 8, 2002
Bafana were on a roll now and claimed another European scalp in their second game at the World Cup as Siyabonga Nomvethe scored an early goal to give his side a deserved 1-0 win. It should have been more in truth. This was also Bafana’s first ever win at a World Cup finals.
SOUTH AFRICA 2-1 NORWAY
March 28, 2009
A warm-up game for the Confederations Cup that was played in Rustenburg was won by Bafana, beating another Scandinavian side. Bernard Parker scored early and Siphiwe Tshabalala netted an excellent late winner in a rare high moment for the hapless Brazilian coach Joel Santana. This was a good win against a useful Norway side.
SOUTH AFRICA 1-0 POLAND
June 6, 2009
Another game just ahead of the Confederations Cup and another win for Bafana as the unlikely figure of Thembinkosi ‘Terror’ Fanteni proved the match-winner. He was considered the lead forward ahead of Katlego Mphela at the time, though that would change at the tournament.
SOUTH AFRICA 1-0 DENMARK
June 5, 2010
A pre-World Cup warm-up game against a decent Denmark side ended in a 1-0 win for Bafana as Katlego Mphela scored the only goal 14 minutes from fulltime. This was a game that match-fixer Wilson Perumal tried to have an influence on and which saw the referee replaced by South African Matthew Dyer at the last minute. It remains the only time Bafana have been refereed by a South African!
SOUTH AFRICA 2-1 FRANCE
June 21, 2010
The most famous of wins, albeit against a demoralised France who were in disarray after internal battles within the squad at the 2010 World Cup. Bafana still had to do the business and goals from Katlego Mphela and Bongani Khumalo kept their dreams of a knockout place alive, though ultimately they did not make it.
SOUTH AFRICA 1-0 SPAIN
November 19, 2013
Certainly the highlight of Gordan Igesund’s time in charge of the side was the friendly win against then world champions Spain. The European side had brought a strong selection back to the scene of their 2010 triumph but Bernard Parker’s goal on 56 minutes sealed the contest. Wily Spanish coach Vicente del Bosque tried to exceed the number of allowed subs towards the end which would have turned the match into a training game and nullified the result, but Igesund, a shrewd character himself, was onto him.