By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The South African Football Association (SAFA) and Standard Bank have announced a landmark sponsorship that will see Africa’s largest bank become an official partner, supporting Bafana Bafana, Banyana Banyana and grassroots national teams from 2026 and beyond.
Bafana Bafana will be in the global spotlight as it faces co-host nation Mexico (hosting with US and Canada) in the opening match of the soccer spectacle in Mexico City on 11 June at the iconic Azteca Stadium.
Yolisa Koza, head of Brand Experience at Standard Bank Group, said “the deal represented a landmark partnership between Africa’s largest bank by assets and the South African Football Association (Safa).”
“This is a pivotal moment for Standard Bank, which has operations in 21 countries on the African continent. This major sponsorship sees us back all the national football teams as well as at grassroots level,” she said.
Safa president Danny Jordaan said the Standard Bank sponsorship deal is an important milestone ahead of the 2026 Fifa World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada, especially with Bafana Bafana qualifying for the tournament for the first time in 16 years.
South African national teams continue to deliver inspired performances on the field. Bafana Bafana finished with a bronze medal at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations before qualifying for the 2026 Fifa World Cup, while Banyana Banyana are the 2022 Women’s African champions and showed a competitive spirit at the 2023 Women’s Fifa World Cup.