Former Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has named Mbekezile Mbokazi as South Africa’s standout player following Bafana Bafana’s narrow 1-0 defeat to Canada in the Round of 32 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Mbokazi delivered an impressive performance in central defence, helping South Africa keep Canada at bay for most of the encounter. However, Stephen Eustáquio scored a late winner to seal Canada’s place in the Round of 16.
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Speaking during his analysis on SuperSport, Troost-Ekong praised the young defender’s display, saying it “speaks volumes” that Mbokazi was South Africa’s best player on the night. He also acknowledged Okon for his contribution in possession.
Troost-Ekong noted that South Africa created several opportunities in the final 30 minutes after becoming more attack-minded but believed their decision to wait for extra time instead of pushing earlier ultimately proved costly.
Canada’s 1-0 victory secured their place in the Round of 16, while South Africa bowed out of the tournament after a spirited performance.
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