2025 in Review | A glittering year for South African sport

2025 will long be remembered by sports fans across South Africa as a year of triumph and historic achievements.

The country’s flag was flown high by its teams as well as individual sportsmen and women across different codes.

The Proteas, Bafana Bafana, and the Springboks all impressed under the guidance of coaches Shukri Conrad, Hugo Broos, and Rassie Erasmus.

Bafana Bafana achieved the remarkable feat of qualifying for two major tournaments in the same year – the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which kicked off on Sunday, and the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

This marks South Africa’s first World Cup appearance since 2002.

Bafana Bafana’s opponents at the 2026 FIFA World Cup have been unveiled at the Kennedy Centre in Washington DC, USA today.#BafanaPride@10bet_ZA @SABC_Sport pic.twitter.com/T3LyA6HvN4

— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) December 5, 2025

The Springboks continued to dominate world rugby, in arguably one of their best seasons ever when they displayed their continued dominance against their biggest rivals, setting the standard even higher than before. The team won eleven of 13 matches, they maintained their number one ranking and set a new standard against their fiercest rivals.

What a year it’s been 🏆

Thank you South Africa 🇿🇦#Springboks #ForeverGreenForeverGold pic.twitter.com/modEEktGIp

— Springboks (@Springboks) December 18, 2025

As impressive as Bafana and the Boks were, some may argue that the year belonged to Conrad’s Proteas who won the ICC World Test Championship, South Africa’s first ever world title in the sport.

Temba Bavuma and his team overcame old foes Australia by five wickets to secure this historic victory.

Key partnerships from Aiden Markram and captain Temba Bavuma powered South Africa to a historic second-highest successful run chase at Lord’s.

Markram’s six-hour 136-run innings and Bavuma’s leadership ensured the win, with Kagiso Rabada lifting the trophy as fans cheered. London 2025 will be remembered as a defining moment for South African cricket.

🏆 CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD! 🇿🇦

A 5 wicket victory! The Proteas Men have conquered the Test arena, winning the ICC World Test Championship 2025 Final against Australia at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground 🏟️🙌

Undeniable. Unstoppable. Unrelenting. History made at the Home of… pic.twitter.com/twI21o7GmV

— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) June 14, 2025

There were also significant victories for South Africa at the World Relay Championships in Guangzhou, China where SA’s men’s 4x100m and 4x400m teams, along with the women’s 4x400m squad, delivered outstanding results by securing two gold medals and a bronze.

These performances set the tone for the World Senior Championships in Tokyo, Japan, in September.

The team arrived in Tokyo having not won a medal at the global showpiece since the 2019 edition in Doha, Qatar.

That drought was finally ended when the men’s 4x400m relay team won the bronze medal on the final day of the championships in the pelting rain.

Wayde van Niekerk, Zakithi Nene, Udeme Okon and Lythe Pillay ensured that Team South Africa returned home with a long-awaited medal.

2025 was, without doubt, a year where South African sport shone on the global stage.

Written by: Ntsako Mukhari