Minutes after the final whistle that ended the South African team’s 2026 FIFA journey, midfielder Teboho Mokoena emerged from a silent dressing room still trying to process what had happened. “It was so quiet in the locker room,” he said. “Everybody is sad. That’s how we are feeling right now. We felt we could have done much better, especially with how we lost the game.

“I know we could have made history, but the way we lost is still bittersweet.”

For Mokoena, the decisive moment has already replayed itself countless times.

“The way they scored… man, the way they scored.

“Even me, because I was behind the person who scored. If I had taken three more steps, I could have stopped that shot. That’s what is paining me inside.”

Asked what lessons the squad would carry forward, Mokoena’s answer was immediate.

“At the highest level, the margins are fairly small.

“When you get the chances, you must convert.

“They didn’t get many chances. They got one, and they scored.”

Image Credit: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix

This particular FIFA run marks South Africa’s first team in 24 years to reach the knockout stages. In many ways, this was a World Cup campaign that had exceeded expectations and for 92 minutes, South Africa looked destined to take one of the biggest games in its football history to extra time then Stephen Eustáquio brought everything crashing down giving Canada a dramatic 1-0 victory.

“I think we were starting to lose our legs, and there were too many counter-attacks.’’ As fatigue set in during the closing stages, South Africa struggled to contain Canada’s transitions. ‘’It was back and forth, and we couldn’t stabilize.”

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Even in defeat, Mokoena refused to criticise his teammates.

“I think everyone gave everything. I think luck was on their side today.”

His coach, Hugo Broos, echoed that sentiment after the match. The Belgian admitted Canada possessed greater speed and physicality but insisted his players had surpassed expectations by reaching the knockout stage with a largely domestically based squad.

The final exchange of Mokoena’s press conference perhaps best summed up his character.

When asked whether it was frustrating that Premier League striker Lyle Foster remained on the bench as South Africa chased a goal, the midfielder smiled before shutting down the debate.

“My friend,” he replied, “I’m not the coach.”

Elsewhere, the Bafana Bafana team captain hopes that an African team can go all the way. Speaking to Amplify Africa, Ronwen Williams said. ‘‘African football is on the rise. For me, it’s just to wish them all the best, you know, hopefully, an African team can go all the way. Because we know how important it is for our countries, for the African continent. You know, there’s so much that’s going on, you know, on the African continent, people don’t give us, you know, that chance to achieve greatness. So hopefully, an African team can can go all the way.’’