The South African media has praised Bafana Bafana’s bittersweet exit from this year’s FIFA World Cup™, after they upset France in a 2-1 victory but failed to reach the Round of 16.

“What a grand exit!” read the headline in The Times, over a large photo of team captain Aaron Mokoena raising his hands in thanks to the crowd in Bloemfontein following yesterday’s match. “Bafana might be out of the World Cup, but their 2-1 win over France did us proud,” the paper said.

The Sowetan called the national team “heroes”, Business Day praised their “gallant effort” and The Star called their performance “gutsy”.

“Bafana have done something beyond any scoreline or group table… they have helped unite this nation,” said an editorial in The Citizen.

South Africa ended the first round with four points, tied for second place in Group A, but lost out to Mexico on goal difference and failed to reach the second round.

South Africa is the first host nation not to advance past the first round, a cause for much disappointment among fans. The Citizen featured a photo of two sad faces painted with the national flag, while The Sowetan showed a crying fan with the caption ‘Sad goodbye’.

But local media urged the country to continue its FIFA World Cup celebration. “The game is still on,” said The Citizen. “FIFA 2010 fever is still in the air. You can feel it.”

“We won a game against France today but the real winner was our country,” President Jacob Zuma said after the match. “South Africa is the bigger winner by hosting the World Cup.”

In scenes never before seen in South Africa, vuvuzelas across the country blew in unison as the clock struck 12 in mass display of support for the home team – Bafana Bafana.

In what will prove to be one the largest national displays of World Cup spirit since the bid announcement in 2004, a proud nation let the world know just what kind of tournament Africa’s first World Cup will be.

In Johannesburg the crowds were there to welcome the national side, who drove through the city in a an open top bus, at every turn as they made their way from their hotel in Sandton to their training ground at Wits University. While in Durban, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and the other Host Cities, the atmosphere was no less electric as World Cup fever spread as quickly as the distinct drone of the vuvuzela.

“I’m here to support Bafana Bafana and to get behind my country,” said Zeyn Tilly. “It feels amazing to be here, it is the first time in my life I have seen this unity in South Africa. The atmosphere is just electric.”

For Tilly this is the start of a fun-filled six weeks. “You can have no idea how incredible this is for me, I just want it to go as slow as possible so that I can enjoy every minute. This tournament is about more than just football.”

It seems Tilly is right, all around the country music blared from speakers, while revellers blew on their vuvuzelas and danced in the streets.

Joseph Mabea came to celebrate the spirit of the country. “I am a huge Bafana fan, I have seen the passion in them and I want them to know I am with them all the way.”

Mabea has a ticket for the opening match and the atmosphere of the parade is only getting him more excited. “I will be there and I can’t wait. Seeing such a match live, no longer on the television, is amazing for me. The feeling here is amazing, I am running short of words. I wish this could happen more often, I wish this could be my life, showing how united we are as a nation.”

Support for the national side has been growing in recent weeks, both as a result of the proximity of the tournament and due to their performances on the pitch. “This is a great team,” said Muhammed Moosa. “12 unbeaten games, they are just great and they will do us proud.”

Many businesses allowed their staff to come and join the party in the streets adding a huge number of people to the festivities.

Laughing with friends as she tried to blow her vuvuzela, Leanne Toffie wanted to show her passion for her national side.

“To be here, united with my fellow South Africans in support of Bafana Bafana – it is just an amazing feeling, seeing the country united as one, it is here. I am very proud of my country and proud to be here,” she exclaimed.

Across the country South Africa demonstrated their support for their team, their country and the World Cup.

Many tourists are in Cape Town for the World Cup and it did not take long for them to get in on the act and also try and blow a vuvuzela.

Pablo Ezeqiel Perez Murua from Argentina and his family are staying at a gust house in Plattekloof. They came to explore Cape Town for the day and were pleasantly surprised at our patriotism. “Cape Town is a wonderful city, the people are friendly and very patriotic. I have also bought a trumpet (vuvuzela) and will blow it at our first game against Korea.”

“Walking down Long Street (in Cape Town) was incredible. People were standing on balconies overlooking the street while outside people were congregating in groups blowing their vuvuzelas. It was the first time that I can really remember seeing all South Africans united in such a way. It was so overwhelming,” said Deon Malan who happened upon the scenes of celebration while walking through the city on his way to meet friends at a nearby restaurant.

Nicholas Ndlovu is a fully clad in his supporters uniform, with makarapa, vuvuzela, overalls and glasses. “It feels like I am in heaven, coming into a crowd of people like this, it makes me so proud. Thank you Bafana for making us one!”

South Africa whipped itself into a FIFA World Cup™ frenzy today as the national side paraded through Johannesburg and holders Italy flew in to defend their crown, two days before the kick-off.

Tens of thousands lined the streets of the Sandton business district to hail Bafana Bafana, draping themselves in flags and honking vuvuzela trumpets as the team waved at them from an open-top bus. There were similar scenes throughout Johannesburg, as office workers left their buildings and lined the streets to blow vuvuzelas and wave South African flags, as passing cars tooted their horns.

Some wore clown wigs in national colours, and others had makarapas – hard hats carved and painted into the shape of footballers and flags. Schoolchildren were dismissed at midday for a special month-long FIFA World Cup holiday, bringing many youngsters on to the sidewalk with their parents for the festivities.

The noise from the plastic vuvuzela horns, set to become one of the main talking points of the tournament, drowned out all conversation, including attempts by television journalists to deliver two-way reports to their studio. Thousands also poured into the streets of Cape Town to answer a call on the radio to blow their vuvuzelas at lunchtime.

“It was a national call to have a vuvuzela moment,” said Zanele Ntuli among the crowds outside parliament “Never in my life did I think this would come to Africa, let alone South Africa.”

The sense of anticipation has been heightened by an unexpected upturn in the form of Bafana Bafana, who go into Friday’s opening match against Mexico on the back of a 12-match unbeaten run. South Africans were ecstatic 14 years ago after the team won the CAF Africa Cup of Nations on home soil but the national football association said Wednesday’s turn-out beat all records. “This is the biggest show of public support for our team in the history of the professional game,” said chief executive Leslie Sedibe.

A spokesman for the local organising committee said everything was in place but added that opening-day traffic jams remain a concern. “We urge the 90,000 spectators who will be coming here to exercise restraint when it comes to using their own cars, because there are buses and there are trains which will drop them right at the door,” said Rich Mkhondo.

Nearly all of the teams are now in situ, with Italy one of the last to fly in on Wednesday. Dozens of police and a smattering of hardcore fans were at Johannesburg airport to greet Gli Azzuri, whose pre-tournament results have done little to encourage hope that they can retain their title.