Bafana Bafana legend Doctor Khumalo has reacted to the team’s elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the hands of Canada, saying the players weren’t mentally proper.
The clash at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles was the first time Bafana were in the knockout phase in their four appearances at the World Cup.
However, though they created some chances, they spent the majority of the game defending. And they fell to the tournament co-hosts who scored one goal at the death to break their hearts and end South Africa’s fairytale run at the event.
Speaking on SABC3 after the game Khumalo said Bafana didn’t find the same level they showed in the second half against Czechia and didn’t really trouble their opponents.
“It’s so unfortunate we lost,” said Khumalo.
“But I must say that from my observation, I think mentally the boys were not proper. Secondly, we didn’t hurt Canada at all, because if you were to ask me the whole 90 minutes, we were worse than the second half of the Czechia game.
“[Against] Czech Republic, second half, we might look much better, but we couldn’t pick up from that second half up until this game. How then do we say, they tried and do it, but didn’t hurt them, not at all.
“Because I would like to say, if mentally the boys, you could see a team that is mentally prepared, physically prepared, but everything, it was a little bit casual.
“Some errors there, loss of possession unnecessarily, one touch was not okay. But yes, we can polish it and say yeah they tried to play it.”