Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has pointed to his halftime tactical tweak of bringing in Relebohile Mofokeng for Jayden Adams as key in South Africa fighting back to salvage a 1-1 FIFA World Cup Group A draw against Czechia on Thursday.
South Africa were at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, where they picked up their first point of the 2026 FIFA World Cup edition. It was a slight recovery from the 2-0 defeat by Mexico in the tournament opener seven days earlier.
However, Bafana remain at the bottom of Group A with just a point, but still have chances of progressing to the Round of 32 by either securing second spot or as one of the eight third-best finishers.
Against the Czech Republic, Broos’ side struggled in the first half and conceded as early as the sixth minute. They appeared headed for another defeat and a disappointing afternoon.
But Bafana’s relentless late pressure finally paid dividends when they forced the Czechs into conceding a penalty, which Teboho Mokoena coolly converted to restore parity.
HALFTIME INTRODUCTION OF RELEBOHILE MOFOKENG, ‘A VERY GOOD DECISION’
Broos has hailed Mofokeng’s halftime introduction as the ultimate game-changer. The Orlando Pirates sensation completely re-energised Bafana’s sluggish attack, successfully unlocking the previously isolated Oswin Appollis and Thapelo Maseko—the latter eventually winning the crucial penalty.
While Jayden Adams struggled to impose himself in a lifeless first-half midfield that lacked vertical progression and connection with the frontline, Mofokeng injected immediate dynamism. The playmaker routinely drove at opposition defenders and exploited spaces in the final third, shifting Bafana into a much more creative gear and vindicating his coach’s tactical masterstroke.
“I thought in the first half we were not aggressive enough when we lost the ball. And that made Czechia, in some moments, play football very easily,” said Broos as he addressed the media post-match.
“So this is the message I gave to the players in the second half, and also the fact that we needed someone in the free space to receive the ball. I hoped, with Rele [Mofokeng], to have that man in the free space, so he could make us more dangerous, and it helped.
“So I think what we did during halftime was a very good decision.”
HUGO BROOS WAXES LYRICAL: ‘THIS IS THE REAL BAFANA BAFANA’
While Broos looked a relieved man after Thursday’s draw, there is a dark shadow hovering above his side. Bafana have gone for seven consecutive games without tasting victory in all competitions.
Since edging Zimbabwe 3-2 at the 2025 AFCON tournament, they have gone winless and are yet to post any triumph in 2026. That discouraging record includes being held 0-0 by lowly-ranked Nicaragua in the build-up to the World Cup.
But for now, the unwanted run does not matter to Broos, who saw his side once again as a recognisable outfit in their performance against the Czech Republic.
“But also, the guys were very determined, and they showed a lot of perseverance today [Thursday] in the game,” the former Cameroon coach went on.
“They wanted to win that game, and that makes me very happy. Again, I’m very proud of the performance of my team, and this is the real Bafana Bafana.”
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