World Cup 2026: South Africa star Teboho Mokoena shoulders responsibility after elimination to Canada

South Africa star Teboho Mokoena has taken responsibility for his outfit painful elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup following narrow defeat to Canada in the Round of 32.

The Bafana Bafana’s impressive World Cup journey came to an end at the Los Angeles Stadium after Canadian midfielder Stephen Eustáquio scored the decisive goal in a tightly contested encounter.

Speaking after the match, the Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder admitted he should have reacted quicker in the build-up to the goal and felt personally responsible for not closing down Eustáquio in time.

“I could’ve done better because I was behind the guy who scored that goal. We played in patches, but we really can’t fault the effort from the guys because we fought until the final whistle,” Mokoena said after the defeat.

Despite the loss, South Africa showed resilience throughout the tournament and pushed Canada until the final stages of the game.

The Bafana Bafana struggled to fully impose themselves during parts of the contest, but they continued to fight and search for an equaliser until the closing moments. Canada, however, remained disciplined defensively and managed to protect their slender advantage to secure qualification to the next round.

Mokoena, one of South Africa’s standout performers during the tournament, appeared visibly emotional after the final whistle. The 28-year-old played a key role in the team’s midfield throughout the competition and was widely praised for his work rate and leadership.

Following the heartbreaking exit, the midfielder admitted he now only wants time away from football to recover mentally after the demanding World Cup campaign.

“All I’m thinking about right now is to go back home, relax, and then we’ll take it from there,” he added.

South Africa’s elimination means their wait for another deep World Cup run continues, but the performances of Hugo Broos’ side during the tournament earned admiration from many football supporters. Despite falling short in the knockout stage, Bafana Bafana demonstrated significant progress and competitiveness against some of the world’s top teams.

Attention will now shift towards rebuilding and preparing for future continental and international competitions as South Africa look to build on the positives from their 2026 World Cup experience.