South Africa's #10, Relebohile Mofokeng, runs with the ball during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group A match between Czechia and South Africa at Atlanta Stadium on June 18, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Image: Lars Baron/Getty Images via AFP
If you’re an ardent Bafana Bafana fan, South Africa’s opening fixtures at a FIFA World Cup. would have undoubtedly raised your blood pressure.
Going into the third crucial match against South Korea on Thursday morning, somehow, the boys in green and gold are still in with a shout.
South Africa has to beat Son Heung-min’s South Korea to stand any chance of qualifying either in second or in the third position spot.
So let’s look at the four key factors that could lead Bafana to their first knockout round games at a FIFA World Cup games.
South Africa's #4, Teboho Mokoena, celebrates after scoring a penalty for his team's first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group A match between Czechia and South Africa at Atlanta Stadium on June 18, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Image: Lars Baron/Getty Images/AFP
Bafana’s brilliant Bethlehem-born #4 took responsibility and dispatched the penalty to level the game in the 83rd minute against Czechia. The Sundowns midfielder delivered a Man of the Match performance, controlling the midfield and dominating the opposition. It was a monumental display, but sadly, Mokoena picked up his second yellow card of the tournament. He is suspended for the crucial clash against the Koreans.
Mokoena has been an instrumental and dogged figure in the Bafana midfield for close to a decade, arguably the team's best player, and playing the Koreans without him makes the task for Bafana that much tougher.
Siphephelo “Yaya” Sithole will most likely return to midfield after his red card suspension, but he is a completely different profile to Mokoena.
In the absence of Mokoena, controlling the tempo and possession will likely fall on the young shoulders of Jayden Adams, while coach Hugo Broos must show trust in Relebogile Mofokeng, by giving him his first start at the World Cup. When Rele was introduced at half time, Bafana’s performance went up a notch and his creativity and flair on the ball was mesmerizing at times, pulling Czechia defenders towards him.
Most pundits abroad were not wowed by the performance, but ask any South African football lover, and they will tell you that Bafana’s second half performance improved considerably because of the inclusion of the 21-year-old known as the ‘President Yama 2K’.
It was a Rele inspired move in injury time that saw Aubrey Modiba nearly steal a victory for Bafana at the death. This World Cup deserves to see more of one of South Africa’s brightest young attacking talents. The Koreans will pose a threat with the speed and grit, but Mofokeng is a highly technical and skillful footballer, who can use his quick feet to evade the Koreans who will likely come with a pressing game built around speed and fast transitions.
South Africa's forward Evidence Makgopa, Mexico's midfielder #19 Gilberto Mora and South Africa's midfielder #5 Thalente Mbatha fight for the ball during the 2026 World Cup Group A football match between Mexico and South Africa at the Mexico City Stadium in Mexico City on June 11, 2026.
Image: Yuri Cortez/AFP
Bafana’s #17 striker came on as a late substitute for Iqraam Rayners, who did well to link up play in the final third. However, Evidence Makgopa was a bigger threat, using his stature and skill to spin the Czechia defence. The Koreans are expected to duel harder than Czechia, they are expected to press harder and run harder, but with the street smart footballing talents of Makgopa, he could be Bafana’s secret weapon to unlock and release the likes of Oswin Appollis and Thapelo Maseko in the wings - both players were really impressive in the fixture against Czechia.
Makgopa offers an aerial threat to the team, he also offers calmness and he can pull defenders by dropping into the #10 positions, allowing the faster wide attackers to run past him to create a goal threat.
Lyle Foster appears bereft of confidence at the moment, so it is probably best he be kept on the bench and used as an impact sub.
South Africa's Belgian head coach Hugo Broos gestures during the 2026 World Cup Group A football match between Mexico and South Africa at the Mexico City Stadium in Mexico City on June 11, 2026.
Image: Yuri Cortez/AFP
Coach Hugo Broos came under severe scrutiny and caused public outrage for his 3-5-2 or 5-3-2 formation that he used in the opening encounter against Mexico. It was not the worst idea in the world, and the number of teams who have used the same formation in the tournament is testament to this, but the Bafana players clearly looked totally unsettled and uncomfortable.
South Africa qualified playing a mix of the 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 formations, and it is these formations that the madala must persist with against the Koreans.
South Africa has to play on the front foot and be positive. Our best attackers: Mofokeng, Appollis, Maseko, must be let loose.
The Koreans are no slouches, so concentration will be vital, but the goal must be singular. Win.
* Sihle Mlambo is the content distribution lead at IOL.
** The views expressed herein are not necessarily those of IOL.