Govt hails Bafana after heartbreaking defeat to Canada
South Africa's historic World Cup 2026 journey came to an end after Stephen Eustaquio's stoppage-time winner fired Canada to a 1-0 win over Bafana Bafana on Sunday in the first match of the knockout rounds.
READ: Co-hosts Canada beat Bafana Bafana to reach World Cup last 16
With both sides making their inaugural appearance in the knockout phase, the game appeared to be heading for extra time before Eustaquio broke South African hearts with a clinical hit from just outside the area.
Canada -- playing in Los Angeles despite being co-hosts, after failing to win their group -- will now face the Netherlands or Morocco in Houston in the last 16 on July 4, as South Africa's World Cup adventure comes to an end.
The government has hailed the team's achievement, saying their performances united the country and demonstrated that South African football belongs on the biggest stage.
"The nation remains immensely proud of what the team has achieved. For the first time in South Africa's history, Bafana Bafana reached the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup, inspiring millions of South Africans and making the Southern African region proud," said spokesperson William Baloyi.
South Africa coach Hugo Broos said his side, though defeated, "can be fairly satisfied with what we did" after progressing from the group stage for the first time.
"Okay, we are disappointed, we wanted to win, but it would have really been a little miracle if we had been in the third round," he said.
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