Mexico head coach Javier Aguirre has lauded Bafana Bafana ahead of their 2026 FIFA World Cup opener, while specifically singling out an Orlando Pirates star for praise.
The two nations are set to face off on Thursday evening at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, with kickoff scheduled for 21:00 (SA time).
The fixture evokes memories of the opening match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, where South Africa played out a thrilling 1-1 draw against Mexico at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg—a clash that remains their only meeting on the global stage.
Speaking during his pre-match press conference, Aguirre emphasised that Bafana have progressed immensely since that 2010 encounter.
He spoke highly of the current crop of South African players, reserving special praise for Pirates youngster Relebohile Mofokeng, whom he predicted would soon be heading to Europe.
“South Africa has improved a lot. We drew with them in 2010. Their football has progressed, and I have a lot of respect for Hugo Broos,” said Aguirre.
“They have many players from the same team, so everyone knows each other.
“There are young players; I love Mofokeng, he’ll be going to Europe soon. I love their fans.”