World Cup 2026: Why Bafana Bafana Lost Against Canada in Their Round of 32 Encounter in US
- Bafana Bafana have been knocked out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after losing to one of the co-hosts, Canada, on Sunday evening
- South Africa were the better side in terms of possession in the match, but lost the match in the closing stages of the game
- A football analyst in a chat with Briefly News explained why Bafana Bafana lost against Canada despite being the better side
Bafana Bafana's dream FIFA World Cup campaign ended heartbreakingly after they were edged 1-0 by Canada in their Round of 32 clash in Los Angeles on Sunday.
Source: Getty Images
Hugo Broos' men absorbed wave after wave of Canadian attacks and looked set to force extra time with a resilient defensive display. However, deep into stoppage time, Stephen Eustáquio struck a superb volley to shatter South African hopes and send Canada through to the last 16.
South Africa came into the Round of 32 with an historic win over South Korea in their last Group A fixture, with Broos making history. The Belgian tactician also made history in this match against Canada despite his team being eventually knocked out of the competition.
Why Bafana Bafana lost to Canada
Football analyst Themba Modise, during a chat with Briefly News after the match, outlined some of the reasons why Bafana Bafana lost against Canada despite being the better side in terms of possession.
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"We were the better side in possession in the game, but we failed to create big chances and clear-cut chances to make effective use of the possession," he said.
"Another reason why we lost is the loss of concentration in the closing stages of the match. We were already thinking about the extra time rather than staying focused on the back.
"Kudos to the boys, they made us proud, after so many people and other countries wrote us off after we lost the opening fixture against Mexico."
Why Bafana should be proud despite exit
Modise gave a positive review about Bafana Bafana and shared the reason why the players should be proud despite not making it past the Round of 32 stage of the World Cup.
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"The boys gave their all since that defeat against Mexico in the opening fixture of the competition, and we can see that we have a group of players who can beat their chest that they made history in a global football competition," the football analyst added.
"They showed that despite most of them playing football in the South African league, they are strong enough to battle their counterparts on the global stage.
"I expect them to be welcomed massively when they return home; they deserve all the praise for what they achieved after being looked down on by doubters, especially from other African countries."
Bafana Bafana star ranked among the best
Briefly News earlier reported that a Bafana Bafana star was ranked among the best performers at the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup despite South Africa's poor performance.
The South African international has showcased his football talent on the global stage, even as the team struggled in the group stage.
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Source: Briefly News
