Happy New Year to all our Sunday World readers and welcome back, as we enter another year that will be action-packed with major sporting events – which will see our athletes pick up from where they left off and raise the South African flag high yet again on the global stage.
It goes without saying that 2024 was a year many South Africans will look back on and be proud of, as our respective national teams rose to the occasion and delivered
positive results.
For instance, early in the year, we witnessed how Bafana Bafana managed the unthinkable on the continent by going all the way to clinch a bronze medal at the Africa Cup of
Nations (Afcon) with coach Hugo Broos – the first podium finish in 24 years.
We also saw the men’s and women’s senior cricket teams reach finals and shine at their respective World Cup tournaments, but they fell short in the finals.
Ahead of what is expected to be a busy year of sports, Sunday World gives you the list of
major events that will see our national teams, clubs, players and coaches all in action:
Women’s Africa Cup of Nations:
Thirty-eight nations will begin the road to glory in Morocco from July 5 to 26 this year, when Banyana Banyana finally get the opportunity to defend their Wafcon crown on the soil where they won it in 2022.
Banyana coach Desiree Ellis will be under pressure to defend their title, as all the previous winners have managed to retain their crowns without fail.
The likes of Thembi Kgatlana, Linda Motlhalo and Bambanani Mbane will be some of the players who will be key for Ellis heading into the competition.
ICC World Test Championship final:
The Proteas could not have asked for a better way to bounce back from the humiliating ODI whitewash from Pakistan when they redeemed themselves in style by qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) final in London, England, in June.
South Africa held on for a narrow victory in Centurion last week Sunday, where they produced a two-wicket win over Pakistan on day four of the
first Test.
The Proteas are now waiting for their opponents, as they were the first team to book their spot in the WTC final.
Fifa Club World Cup:
Another competition that will be taking place in June is the much anticipated and spoken about Fifa Club World Cup that kicks off in the US on June 15.
Mamelodi Sundowns, Rulani Mokwena (Wydad Athletic Club), Elias Mokwana (Esperance de Tunis) and Percy Tau (Al Ahly) will all be raising the South African flag against some of the elite teams around the world.
Africa Cup of Nations
Bafana Bafana will be returning to the Afcon stage with pride and pedigree after what they did in Ivory Coast last year.
Having already secured qualification for the African showpiece, Broos will have time to start planning and assemble a strong enough squad that will look to compete for the ultimate prize.
Women’s Cricket World Cup:
Proteas Women will be looking back to 2024 with so much pride and joy after reaching two cricket world cup finals.
Inasmuch as they fell short in both, this year will probably be the year where they will wish to be a third-time lucky by going all the way to deliver the first world cup trophy in the
history of SA cricket.
The month and dates for the competition are yet to be confirmed.
