Teboho Mokoena outlines Bafana Bafana World Cup objective

Africa Today at 09:03

Hlayisani Magoro

News Editor

11.06.26 15:00 World Cup

Mexico

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South Africa

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Bafana Bafana midfielder Teboho Mokoena has outlined the team's objective at the highly-anticipated 2026 FIFA World Cup co-hosted by the United States of America, Mexico, and Canada.

South Africa will renew their rivalry with Mexico in the opening match of the global showpiece at Azteca Stadium on Thursday, 11 June, in what will be a repeat of the competition's curtain raiser a decade ago at FNB Stadium.

The 1996 African champions will be partaking in their fourth World Cup, having qualified for the 1998 edition in France and the 2002 tournament co-hosted by South Korea and Japan, before hosting the spectacle in 2010.

However, Bafana failed to make it past the group stages in the aforementioned tournaments, and Mokoena says the current crop of players are hell-bent on etching their names in the nation's history books by securing a spot in the knockout stages.

“We haven't spoken about the 2010 World Cup, as a team we want to create our own history, and as we know, our country hasn't went to the knockout stages. So, coming into this tournament our goal is to see ourselves going to the next round,” said the midfield maestro.

With the odds firmly stacked against South Africa ahead of the opening match in Group A, the 29-year-old anchor man is embracing the underdog tag bestowed upon his team, stating that the pressure is on Mexico as the co-hosts of the tournament.

“Even the probability is saying we have seven percent of going to the next round or even winning the game tomorrow, so we don't have pressure, the pressure is on Mexico as the hosts,” Mokoena added.

"So, for us as a team we know what is expected of us and we know how much we prepared for this game and for this tournament. So, of course, we're just looking forward to the game tomorrow.

Having had underwhelming results in their World Cup preparatory matches against Panama and Nicaragua respectively, registering two draws and a defeat, Mokoena is unfazed by the team's below-par performance in the build-up to the tournament.

“We are not bothered by the past results because it was practice matches to prepare for the tournament, and if you check all the teams, they almost play similar, they all play with five at the back, so it's only us who don't play with five at the back,” the player continued.

"So, we have analysed and watched their games, we know what is expected from the games that we're going to play, so it's going to be tough, you can't tell who's going to beat who, but we just have to show up.

The CAF Champions League winner is under no illusion about the threat posed by Mexico, highlighting their rich vein of fine form in their last five matches, where they won three and settled for two draws, which will undoubtedly sets up a competitive tussle.

“They have top players, and I think past few games they've been doing so well. We watched the past five games and I think they almost won five games, and they played against Portugal and they played a draw,” Mokoena noted.

"So, I think they have a good side, and for us to win that game tomorrow we have to fight for everything, every duel, every metre, every ball, and for sure we are ready, so it's going to be a good challenge and a very tough game tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Bafana will also lock horns with Czech Republic on 18 June, before facing South Korea seven days later, with all four teams looking to stamp their authority in the unpredictable Group A.

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