South Africa's deputy president, Kgalema Motlanthe. (AP)

Read more on:   

• kgalema motlanthe

• south africa

Related Links

• Les Bleus are our toughest yet
• No honour in early exit
• Glimmer of hope for Bafana

Johannesburg - The South African nation must continue supporting Bafana Bafana, deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe has urged ahead of their stiffest challenge.

"We need to rally behind Bafana Bafana in the same way we did prior to the start of the tournament and ensure that the spirit remains high," he said in a statement.

Motlanthe called on South Africans to stand behind the national team as they take on France in their final Group A match at Mangaung Stadium in Bloemfontein on Tuesday afternoon.

If Bafana Bafana loses in this match it will be the first host team in the history of the World Cup to be beaten out of the tournament in the first round of the soccer challenge.

Unfazed by a possible defeat, Motlanthe said: "The one thing we need to keep in mind as a nation is that at the end of the tournament, the winning team will lift the trophy, but South Africa, as the winning nation, we will lift the honour."

"To attain that honour, we need as many South Africans as possible to come out in numbers and cheer Bafana Bafana to victory against France.

"That type of spirit, of a nation coming together behind a single vision, we'll need to build on for future events," he said.  

Motlanthe said government was also "generally impressed" by the organised and professional manner in which South Africans have played host to the World Cup.

He said there was a need for the nation to continue in this manner, more so now that Bafana Bafana face an uphill battle to remain good hosts.

Fan Parks and Public Viewing Areas will be open to the public across the country at no cost and South Africans and visitors were urged to make use of these facilities.