Kaizer Chiefs legend Brian Baloyi has explained why Teboho Mokoena’s suspension from Bafana Bafana for the last group match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup is a ‘blessing in disguise’.
Mokoena is set to miss the crucial final Group A showdown against South Korea, where Bafana Bafana require nothing less than a victory to secure a historic, first-ever spot in the World Cup knockout stages.
South Africa are currently rooted to the bottom of Group A with a single point from two matches, following an opening-day defeat to Mexico and a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Czechia. In that tense stalemate against the Europeans, the Mamelodi Sundowns talisman, Mokoena, scored the all-important equaliser from the penalty spot to earn Bafana their first point of the global showpiece.
As Hugo Broos and his charges desperately chase a maximum haul in their group finale, they must navigate the task without their midfield anchor, who picked up his second yellow card of the tournament on Thursday.
Mokoena will serve a mandatory one-match suspension for the clash but will be eligible to return for the knockout rounds should Bafana defy the odds and advance.
As it stands in Group A, Mexico lead the pack with a perfect six points and have already sealed qualification, followed by South Korea in second place with three points. South Africa and Czechia sit tied on one point apiece, leaving the race for the remaining round-of-32 spots wide open.
WHAT BRIAN BALOYI SAID ABOUT MOKOENA’S SUSPENSION
With the former SuperSport United man absent for the next Bafana match, Brian Baloyi believes the suspension is a blessing in disguise. He argues that Broos will now be forced to deploy two holding midfielders alongside a natural playmaker, rather than a rigid three-man defensive anchor that has severely starved the team of attacking creativity in the opening two games.
“Tebza [Mokoena] is an integral part of this team. On and off the field, he is a very big part of this puzzle. We’re going to miss him, but I do believe that in Jayden Adams and [Thalente] Mbatha we have good enough talent to be able to sustain the pressure from South Korea,” Baloyi told FARPost.
“I think the suspension is a blessing in disguise as well because most of us are still crying about why we play with three central midfielders that are ultra-defensive.
“As much as we know that Tebza and Adams do go forward, but naturally, they are ultra-defensive midfielders. So maybe it’s a blessing in disguise for us going into the last game; the coach could be able to play with more attacking players, and that’s what we need against Korea.”
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