Football supporters across fan parks in Mzansi were left frustrated and disappointed on Thursday night as a defensively shaped Bafana Bafana slumped to a 2-0 loss to Mexico in the opening game of the 2026 Fifa World Cup.
Fans expressed doubt the moment coach Hugo Broos revealed his starting line-up, a highly defensive formation.
With Bafana returning to the global soccer showpiece for the first time in 16 years, fan parks across the country were packed as supporters, clad in their Bafana colours, braved the chilly night to rally behind the boys.
To their dismay, Broos went with a defensive team in one of the biggest games of his career, leaving out exciting Orlando Pirates talent Relebohile Mofokeng, Oswin Appollis, and Tshepang Moremi, who have all been in good form for their club, Orlando Pirates, leading up to the World Cup.
Thaps ‘Sekhukhune United’ Chochi, who spoke to Sunday World before kick-off and shared some of his thoughts about the team and predicted how the game would turn out.
“My prediction is that Mexico will beat Bafana Bafana 2-1. And I say this because we need to face reality. We will support Bafana, but we need to be honest football-wise,” Chochi said during a Castle Lager watch party in Braamfontein.
“If you check the Fifa rankings, Mexico is ranked 50th, and Bafana Bafana is ranked 60th. In our preparation games, we did not beat any team, which was a bit embarrassing.
“But we will keep on supporting the team and hope that we get a win and a draw in the next games against the Czech Republic and South Korea to qualify as one of the best number threes.”
Other fans and former players, like Kermit Erasmus, took to social media to rant about how disappointed they are with Broos and his team’s performance.
“Even if it’s true that the level is too high, how do u say that for the world to know? The World Cup just started. We can’t believe in our boys more than you,” Erasmus posted on his X account.
“The sad part of it all is that the sound bite/interview will be played on repeat, and our players will hear and see it every day until their next game. ‘The level is too high for my players’ … You are a leader, lead!”
Broos and Bafana will have an opportunity to rectify their mistakes and redeem themselves against Czechia on Thursday night.
- Bafana Bafana lost 2-0 to Mexico in their opening 2026 FIFA World Cup match.
- The team employed a defensively shaped strategy during the game.
- South African football fans watched the game in various fan parks across Mzansi.
- Supporters expressed frustration and disappointment with the result.
- The loss dampened hopes at the start of the World Cup campaign.
Football supporters across fan parks in Mzansi were left frustrated and disappointed on
Fans expressed doubt the moment coach Hugo Broos revealed his starting line-up, a highly defensive formation.
To their dismay, Broos went with a defensive team in one of the biggest games of his career, leaving out exciting
“My prediction is that Mexico will beat Bafana Bafana 2-1.
“If you check the Fifa rankings, Mexico is ranked 50th, and Bafana Bafana is ranked 60th. In our preparation games, we did not beat any team, which was a bit embarrassing.
“But we will keep on supporting the team and hope that we get a win and a draw in the next games against the Czech Republic and
“Even if it’s true that the level is too high, how do u say that for the world to know?
“
Broos and Bafana will have an opportunity to rectify their mistakes and redeem themselves against Czechia on
