Former Bafana Bafana player,Eric Tinkler has urged South Africa to adopt a more attacking approach as they fight to keep their 2026 FIFA World Cup hopes alive.
Bafana Bafana are under mounting pressure after collecting just one point from their opening two Group A matches. Under head coach Hugo Broos, the side opened their campaign with a 2-0 defeat to Mexico before recovering slightly to secure a 1-1 draw against Czechia. However, in both encounters, early goals conceded forced South Africa onto the back foot from the outset.
Tinkler has criticised Bafana’s defensive midfield setup against Czechia, arguing that it limited their ability to build attacking momentum and control key phases of the match. He believes the tactical approach stifled creativity in the final third and left the team reacting rather than dictating play.
Despite the frustrations, Tinkler singled out young winger Relebohile Mofokeng for praise, highlighting the immediate impact he made after coming on at halftime. The teenager injected pace, energy, and attacking intent, helping to lift South Africa’s performance levels in the second half.
Tinkler was adamant that Bafana were the better side against Czechia and should have taken all three points from the fixture, stressing that missed opportunities could prove costly in a tightly contested group.
Attention now turns to a decisive final Group A clash against the South Korea national football team, with South Africa’s qualification hopes hanging in the balance. A positive result will be essential if Bafana are to remain in contention for a place in the knockout stages of the tournament.
Bafana Bafana will face South Korea in their final group-stage match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Wednesday, 24 June 2026, with kick-off scheduled for 03:00 SAST on Thursday, 25 June due to the time difference. The crucial encounter will be played at Estadio BBVA, also known as “El Gigante de Acero.”
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