Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has defended midfield talisman Teboho Mokoena following his costly 2026 FIFA World Cup suspension, despite simultaneously labelling the yellow card “stupid” and completely avoidable.
After being shown a yellow card in the tournament opener against co-hosts Mexico, Mokwena was cautioned again against the Czech Republic on Thursday. The two bookings make the Mamelodi Sundowns star ineligible to feature in the do-or-die clash with the Koreans. The final group-stage game for Bafana will be staged in Monterrey on Wednesday, 24 June.
Mokoena went in for a late challenge on a Czech player, earning himself sanctions. Bafana need to win their match against South Korea to qualify for the Round of 32 as the first runners-up in Group A or as one of the eight third-best finishers.
Should they achieve that, it would be the first time South Africa has gone beyond the group stage at the World Cup. But they head into that crucial match without one of their key players, Mokoena, who scored a penalty which earned Bafana a 1-1 draw with the Czech Republic.
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With Mokoena suspended, Broos is likely to pair Thalente Mbatha and the returning Sphephelo Sithole as twin defensive midfielders.
“It’s a pity that again we got two yellow cards. During a tournament, if you go through that, you will have to pay that cash,” said Broos. “The weakest players in our team are some of the best players in our team. So, it is something we have to solve. The problem is there, and we will try to fix it.”
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In a show of passion and emotion, Mokoena was caught by the cameras crying as the South African national anthem played. While Broos describes the midfielder’s yellow card as “stupid,” he exonerates Mokwena for the booking, citing his emotional state.
“I think Teboho was and has always been a good player; he is still a good player. You know, in a game like that, sometimes it’s very difficult to control your emotions,” Broos added.
“This was, can I say, a stupid yellow card. But it may not happen, so it stinks, but this is something we have to learn on that level. This is a team with not much experience except in the continent of Africa. But besides that, we don’t have any experience. We learn a lot in those games we play.
“Again, it should be very good for a team that we should go to the second round, and those things will disappear. I’m very sure about it.
“Things like the moment of the throw-in, we should be focused from the first minute of the game, know what will happen and take position. Showing your emotions, getting a yellow card and those kinds of things.
“I will blame nobody for that. There is also a good side: Teboho’s mentality is very good. That pleases me more than the yellow card he got.”
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