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Thousands of excited football fans filled the arrivals hall at OR Thambo international airport on Tuesday morning to welcome home the victorious Banyana Banyana Football team.
After losing their four previous finals, South Africa's women footballers finally got the job done on Saturday night when they captured the Women's Africa Cup of Nations Crown for the first time.
Desiree Ellis' charges beat hosts Morocco 2-1 in a hard-fought final in Rabat, sparking scenes of wild celebration back home.
Hundreds of fans waving South African flags, honking Vuvuzela's and wearing South African football jerseys, also sang and danced in front of a large stage erected in the car park outside the airport.
The team members all wore their winners' medals around their necks as captain Janine van Wyk proudly clutched the glittering-gold WAFCON trophy.
President Cyril Ramaphosa will be hosting Banyana Banyana at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Wednesday - and it's already been announced that the team members will each be receiving a R 400 000 win bonus for their heroics.
During the celebrations at the airport a giant cheque for R5.8 million was presented to the victorious Banyana Baynayan team. The Department of Sports, Arts and Culture announced that this was an additional sum for winning WAFCON.
From the Department of @SportArtsCultur, #BanyanaBanyana receive an additional R5.8M for their job well done!???????? pic.twitter.com/3Lm7SL2gea
— South African Government (@GovernmentZA) July 26, 2022
