The top five sporting moments of 2025
Here are the top five sporting moments of 2025 with a few honourable mentions...
Breakfast with Martin Bester listeners start their mornings with all the latest sporting action from Xola Ntshinga, who brings passion, context and expert insight to every update.
As 2025 unfolded, South African sport produced unforgettable highlights, moments of grit, history and national pride.
Ntshinga shared his top five sporting moments of 2025, along with several honourable mentions that deserve applause on the world stage.
1. Springbok women reach their first-ever World Cup Quarterfinal
Xola's number one highlight goes to the Springbok Women, who made history by advancing to the quarterfinals of the Women’s Rugby World Cup for the very first time
They delivered a standout performance that included a vital victory over Italy, which secured their place in the knockout stages.
Although they were eventually defeated by New Zealand, their journey marked an important step in the growth of women's rugby in South Africa.
A breakthrough tournament and a monumental step forward for the Springbok Women.
2. The Springboks dominate as world number one
South Africa's national men's team continued their era of excellence and enjoyed what Xola describes as a phenomenal season.
In 2025:
- They won the Rugby Championship
- They lost only two matches all season
- They finished the year ranked number one in the world
This consistent dominance reaffirmed the Springboks' status as one of the strongest and most respected rugby teams in the world
3. Bafana Bafana qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
One of the year's most dramatic sporting storylines was Bafana Bafana’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will take place in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Their journey included a tense setback when a match result was reversed due to an ineligible player, which briefly jeopardised their qualification hopes. Bafana fought back and ultimately secured their place on football’s biggest stage.
They will open the World Cup against Mexico. This is a nostalgic reminder of the 2010 World Cup when South Africa opened the tournament with the same fixture, which ended in a memorable 1 to 1 draw.
A triumphant return to the World Cup for Bafana Bafana
4. Proteas men crowned the best test team in the world
Cricket fans celebrated as the Proteas Men claimed the prestigious ICC Test Mace, which officially recognises them as the world’s best Test team.
This achievement is a testament to consistency, strategy and a squad performing at the highest level. It marks another proud chapter in South African cricket.
5. Rayno Nel emerges as the new World's Strongest Man
Xola's final top-five moment comes from an unexpected category.
South Africa's own Rayno Nel shocked the world by winning the title of World's Strongest Man not once but twice in 2025.
He secured his first win in Sacramento in the United States and repeated the victory months later in South Africa.
His back-to-back titles showcased his power, discipline and rising global profile.
A breakthrough athlete whose future looks incredibly bright.
Honourable Mentions
2025 delivered several other standout performances worth celebrating.
South Africa's relay team impresses at World Championships
The relay squad produced world-class performances at the World Relay Championships earlier in the year.
Dricus du Plessis defends UFC Middleweight Champion
In his match against Sean Strickland at the start of the year, Dricus du Plessis claimed victory and defended his UFC Middleweight World Champion title.
It was a major win for South African mixed martial arts.
Proteas women reach the dinal of the ODI Cricket World Cup
Led by standout player Laura Wolvaardt, the Proteas Women reached the final of the ODI Cricket World Cup. They narrowly lost to India but delivered a campaign that filled South Africa with pride.
From historic breakthroughs to world titles and World Cup dreams, 2025 was a monumental year for South African sport.
As Jacaranda FM's Xola Ntshinga reflects, these moments highlight the passion, resilience and national pride that make sport such a powerful unifier.
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