Hugo Broos' men face co-hosts Canada in Los Angeles tonight for a historic spot in the World Cup Round of 16. Photo: Backpagepix
Bafana Bafana are targeting a historic spot in the Round of 16 at the Fifa World Cup, which is why coach Hugo Broos has stressed the importance of a sharp mentality and not underestimating co-hosts Canada ahead of Sunday's clash (kick-off 9pm).
Bafana will face Canada in a momentous Round of 32 showdown at the Los Angeles Stadium. This marks the first time South Africa has ever reached the knockout stage of the tournament, having previously fallen short in 1998, 2002, and 2010 on home soil.
Their journey to the knockouts was a rollercoaster of highs and lows. They started the campaign on a sour note, suffering a daunting defeat against co-hosts Mexico at the iconic Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.
That opening loss stunned the nation, drawing heavy criticism toward Broos for his overly defensive approach. However, the Belgian tactician tweaked his formation for the following match, and his players responded with a spirited second-half performance to rescue a vital point against Czechia.
