World Cup 2026: We’re down – South Africa defender Ime Okon after exit to Canada

South African international Ime Okon has expressed deep disappointment following the sides’ elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, after a narrow 1-0 defeat to Canada in the Round of 32.

The Germany-based defender admitted that the exit has been difficult to process, especially given the effort and performance put in by the team during the tightly contested encounter.

Despite the heartbreak, Okon insisted that the squad must take lessons from the experience and shift focus toward future challenges and development.

Speaking after the match in an interview with Sporty TV, the young defender described the emotional impact of the defeat while acknowledging football’s unforgiving nature.

“I’m very down, but this is football and you can only learn from it, we’re just looking forward to the future,” Okon said.

He pointed out that South Africa had shown positive moments in the game but were ultimately punished by a single decisive moment.

“Yeah we had a good game but at the end of the day, we conceded a goal and it’s 1-0. So, it’s not really helping,” he added.

Okon also reflected on the pride of representing his country on football’s biggest stage, describing it as a major milestone in his career despite the disappointment of an early exit.

“To represent a country is something big for every player, so we look forward to it. For now, we’re still down after this but we will see.”

The defeat marked a painful end to South Africa’s World Cup campaign, with the team showing resilience throughout the tournament but ultimately falling short in the knockout stages. Attention now turns to rebuilding and preparation for upcoming international competitions, as the squad looks to convert its potential into more consistent results on the global stage