Bafana Bafana forward Thapelo Maseko struggled to contain his emotions after helping South Africa achieve a historic milestone, describing the moment as “unbelievable” and like a dream come true.

South Africa etched their name into the history books by securing a place in the FIFA World Cup knockout stages for the first time ever, courtesy of a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Korea Republic.

Thapelo Maseko netted the decisive goal in the 62nd minute as Bafana Bafana secured a second-place finish in Group A.

The winger paid tribute to the passionate supporters who stood by the team throughout their journey, while also sending a message to those who doubted them, insisting that the squad had proven its resilience and strength by overcoming difficult moments.

“It’s unbelievable, it feels like a dream,” Maseko told FIFA.

“Thank you to the fans, they gave it their all.

“This is for everyone who supported us, but also for those who didn’t. There were many people who didn’t believe in us.

“We went through some rough patches. But this team showed that they are capable and strong.”