Bafana Bafana‘s Legends lost 5-2 to Mexico’s Legends in a replay of the 2010 FIFA World Cup opener on Sunday evening.
Back in 2010, Bafana famously held Mexico to a 1-1 draw, with Siphiwe Tshabalala scoring his famous wonder strike to net the first ever World Cup goal on African soil. Sadly, though, Rafael Marquez found the equaliser late in the game.
This Sunday, both squads met again in Mexico as part of the build-up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup opener between both sides on Thursday.
Mexico, though, went into the break leading 2-0, with former Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana goalkeeper keeping the SA Legends in the game, preventing a much higher disadvantage at the break.
However, the El Tricolor Legends raced to a 5-0 lead in the second half thanks to braces from Pablo Barrera, Luis Ángel Landín, and one from Murillo – before Bafana’s 2010 side got onto the score sheet.
Late goals by Reneilwe Letsholonyane and Siphiwe Tshabalala made the result a little more respectable ahead of Thursday’s opening match.
Bafana line-up: Khune, Thwala, Khumalo, Gaxa, Sangweni, Letsholonyane, Khuboni, Pienaar, Nomvethe, Shabalala, Parker
Image credit: Gayton McKenzie