Former Bafana Bafana head coach Pitso Mosimane has urged South Africa to use its 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign as a foundation for future success despite the team’s exit from the tournament.
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Mosimane praised the national team’s achievement in reaching the knockout stage but insisted there is still significant work to be done if South Africa hopes to compete consistently with the world’s elite.
“We must build on this achievement. Reaching the knockout stage is encouraging, but it cannot be the end of our ambition,” Mosimane said.
Reacting to Bafana Bafana’s defeat to Canada, the experienced coach described the contest as an evenly balanced encounter, believing the result could easily have gone in South Africa’s favour.
According to Mosimane, the team failed to capitalise on key moments that might have changed the outcome of the match.
“It was an open game, and we had opportunities. If we had managed certain situations better, the result could have been different,” he added.
The former Al Ahly manager challenged South African football authorities to begin planning for the future rather than dwelling on the disappointment of elimination.
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He stressed that the progress made at the tournament should serve as motivation to strengthen the national team and raise standards ahead of future international competitions.
Mosimane concluded by calling for continued investment in player development, coaching and football structures to ensure Bafana Bafana remain competitive on the global stage.
