UFC Champion Dricus du Plessis wishes Bafana Bafana well

South African UFC Middleweight champion, Dricus du Plessis, says he has no doubt that Bafana Bafana will make it to the next round of the African Cup of the Nations (AFCON) tournament in Côte d’Ivoire.

Bafana Bafana, who caused one of the greatest upsets when they dispatched the number 1 team on the continent, Morocco, will take on Cape Verde on Saturday after booking a spot in the quarter-finals.

Speaking to YNews, du Plessis who is on a victory tour, says the boys are unstoppable and he knows they will do great.

Bafana Bafana will now face Cape Verde on Saturday, hoping to make it to the next round.

⚽️ 𝔾𝕆𝔸𝕃 ⚽️

Teboho Mokoena extends Bafana’s lead!

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Coach Hugo Broos has praised his side for a spirited performance after their win against Morocco.

Thank you South Africa 🇿🇦 – for the messages, the memes, and being a part of the memories! #TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 #AFCON2023 #BafanaPride 🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼 pic.twitter.com/eMnZ0XQiKu

— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) January 30, 2024

The attention will turn to the quarter-finals now taking place on Friday and Saturday.

In the quarter-final matches:

Friday, 2, February:
Nigeria vs Angola
DR Congo vs Guinea

Saturday,3, February
Mali vs Cote d’Ivoire
Cape Verde vs South Africa

‘Hope and excitement’

Du Plessis arrived back in South Africa last week to throngs of fans at the OR Tambo International Airport.

“I was overwhelmed to see so many people at O.R Tambo, and I could feel the hope and excitement, especially at the back of the Rugby World Cup, the country is still on a high. To be the one who brings the UFC World Champion belt home brings me so much pride and joy.”

He is today celebrating his win with South Africans in Cape Town, Waterfront Amphitheatre, and he will be in his hometown of Pretoria, Menlyn Maine, tomorrow.

The MMA Superstar made history and became South Africa’s first UFC champion when he beat American Sean Strickland by 1 point after five rounds through a split decision in Toronto, Canada, last month.

He says waiting to hear who had won the match was the most intense time of his life, adding that he knew that there was no way he could lose that match.