Author: Bernard Okumu

Just when elimination seemed inevitable, Teboho Mokoena stepped up, scoring an 84th-minute penalty for South Africa against the Czech Republic, reigniting Bafana Bafana’s dreams in the 2026 World Cup, securing a 1-1 draw in the Group A encounter at Atlanta Stadium.

The moment exemplified the character and composure required to survive at football’s grandest tournament. After their devastating defeat to Mexico in their tournament opener, South Africa faced potential elimination. The match-saving 83rd-minute penalty from Teboho Mokoena rescued a vital 1-1 draw for Bafana Bafana against Czechia, keeping South Africa’s historic dream of reaching the World Cup knockout stages alive.

Bafana Bafana trailed early in the sixth minute to Michal Sadilek’s smart finish, leaving them desperate and looking for answers. Mokoena’s goal marked South Africa’s first World Cup goal in 16 years, ending a prolonged drought on the tournament’s biggest stage. Though Hugo Broos’s side lacked urgency for much of the match, they refused to surrender when it mattered most.

This outing leaves South Africa with a point, the same as Czech Republic in Group A and a fighting chance of reaching the knockout stage with one game remaining against South Korea.

South Africa face a defining moment in their 2026 World Cup campaign on Thursday, needing a result against the Czech Republic in Atlanta to keep their knockout-stage hopes alive after a difficult start to the tournament.

Bafana Bafana’s opening match brought a chaotic 2-0 defeat to co-hosts Mexico, with red cards for both Sphephelo Sithole and Themba Zwane compounding the damage and leaving Hugo Broos’ side with key absences heading into the Czech clash.

The Belgian coach has faced mounting criticism over his cautious five-man defensive setup, though several players, including goalkeeper Ricardo Goss, have publicly defended him, pointing to his record of steering the team to an Africa Cup of Nations bronze medal after a similarly rocky start in 2023.

The Czechs arrive in Atlanta in an almost identical position. Despite taking an early lead against South Korea in their own opener, Miroslav Koubek’s side collapsed to a 2-1 defeat, leaving both teams without a point and effectively facing an elimination match at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

With Sithole and Zwane suspended, much of the creative burden falls on 21-year-old Orlando Pirates winger Relebohile Mofokeng, while Burnley striker Lyle Foster is expected to lead the line.

South Africa will also need to guard against a Czech side built on defensive solidity and set-piece danger, spearheaded by Bayer Leverkusen forward Patrik Schick and West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek.

A win would lift Bafana off the bottom of Group A and revive hopes of reaching the knockout rounds for the first time in four tournament appearances. A loss, however, would leave their World Cup fate largely out of their own hands, dependent on results elsewhere in the group as they head into a final match against South Korea.

England survived a wobbly defensive start and a stubborn Croatia side to open their 2026 World Cup campaign with a 4-2 win in Dallas, with Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham proving the difference for Thomas Tuchel’s new-look Three Lions.

Kane opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 12th minute after Luka Modric fouled Noni Madueke inside the box, but Croatia twice pulled level in a jittery opening 45 minutes that left Tuchel visibly frustrated on the touchline. England’s back line looked shaky throughout, but the attack more than compensated.

The Three Lions emerged in the second half transformed. Just two minutes after the restart, Bellingham drove into the box and fired into the far corner to restore the lead, sparking a spell of total dominance as England piled forward, eventually racking up 22 shots on the night.

Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic produced a string of outstanding saves to keep the scoreline respectable, denying England a string of clear chances before halftime substitutions. Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford combined late on, with Rashford finishing to make it 4-2.

The result also carried individual significance for Kane, whose double moved him level with Gary Lineker’s tally of ten World Cup goals for England, a milestone that underlines his growing standing in the national team’s history.

For Tuchel, it was an imperfect but ultimately satisfying start: a tricky opening fixture against a battle-hardened Croatia side built around veteran Modric, who was withdrawn in the second half after struggling to control the game against England’s aggressive pressing.

England now turn their attention to Ghana, their next Group L opponent, lifted by the conviction that this attacking unit can trouble any side left in the tournament.

France began their 2026 World Cup campaign with a 3-1 win over Senegal in their Group I opener at the New York/New Jersey Stadium, avoiding a repeat of their shock defeat to the same opponents at the 2002 tournament.

Senegal were the sharper side for much of the first half. Nicolas Jackson saw a shot deflect off the post and goalkeeper Mike Maignan before going out of play, while Ismaila Sarr blazed an open chance over the bar just before the break after a low pull-back from Sadio Mane.

France improved markedly after half-time. Kylian Mbappe broke the deadlock just after the hour mark, turning home a low through-ball from Michael Olise. Bradley Barcola added a second late on, dinking a finish over Edouard Mendy after good work from substitute Adrien Rabiot. Mbappe then struck again to complete his brace before Senegal substitute Ibrahim Mbaye pulled one back deep into stoppage time.

The brace was a landmark moment for Mbappe. The two goals took him to 14 World Cup goals overall, moving him past Just Fontaine as France’s all-time leading scorer at the tournament and leaving him two short of Miroslav Klose’s all-time record of 16. The goals also lifted Mbappe to 58 international goals for France, overtaking Olivier Giroud as the country’s outright top scorer.

France, runners-up in 2022 and champions in 2018, next face Iraq in their second group game, while Senegal turn their attention to Norway.