South Africa’s 2026 Fifa World Cup defeat by Mexico has been described as “a nightmare from start to finish” by former captain Dean Furman.
Bafana Bafana went 1-0 down in the ninth minute after Sphephelo Sithole was caught in possession on the edge of his penalty area, and the midfielder was then sent off in the second half, with forward Themba Zwane also seeing red in Mexico City as the co-hosts strolled to a comfortable 2-0 win in the opening game at the finals.
“South Africa were just miles off it,” Furman told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“There’s really not one player on that pitch in a yellow shirt who can hold their hand up and say they did themself justice.
“Mexico were in total control from minute one. They looked more assured, they were calm in possession.
“It was just turnover after turnover after turnover, and when you’re playing against quality opposition you get punished.”
Cameroon were the last team to see red twice in the opening match of a World Cup, when they faced holders Argentina in Italy in 1990.
Incredibly, the Indomitable Lions registered a famous 1-0 victory against Diego Maradona’s side, a result which South Africa never threatened to match.
Estadio Azteca, but was pleased with how his side “kept fighting”.
“Obviously the opening game of the World Cup comes with so much emotion,” the 34-year-old said.
“We knew they were going to have the atmosphere, the energy behind them and we didn’t want to concede in the opening few stages.
“And then that’s exactly what happened. That’s a lesson that we need to take out of this.
“As difficult as it was with two guys [sent off], we didn’t give up. It shows the mentality that we have and the character that we kept fighting.”
South African fans watching back home in Johannesburg were less impressed.
Relebogile Lairi described it as a “very disappointing start” to the World Cup, adding that supporters “expected a lot more from the boys” who she thought suffered “stage fright”.
Nicholas Makomene thought the approach was overly defensive and said there was “no need to park the bus”.
Mixed views on red cards
South Africa coach Hugo Broos took issue with his side’s second dismissal, which came after a video assistant referee review which prompted Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio to show Zwane a straight red.
The forward had tussled with Roberto Alvarado while trying to get past his opponent on the edge of the box, with the Mexican going to ground holding his head.
“The first red card, I don’t think we have to say something about it but the second red card I think the Mexican player blocked my player,” Broos said.
However, Furman felt that Zwane deserved to be sent off for violent conduct after swinging his arm into Alvarado’s face.
“I know Themba well, I’ve played with him for years. I know it’s incredibly soft but it’s the modern game, you can’t lash out,” Furman said.
“It’s going to be an interesting World Cup if that’s what we’re giving red cards for but that is the game today. You can’t do that.”
Rise in African ‘hate-watching’
South Africa became the first nation on the continent to host the World Cup in 2010, with Pan-African unity in plentiful supply as Ghana reached the quarter-finals.
Sixteen years on the same cannot be said as many fans across the continent were supporting Mexico on Thursday rather than Bafana Bafana.
It is partly in response to anti-migrant protests and violence in South Africa, which has prompted several other African countries to repatriate some of their citizens.
South African officials have condemned the violence and insisted their country is not xenophobic.
But many on the continent were happy to see South Africa defeated, with Elisha Kamau organising a ‘hate-watch’ party in Nairobi.
“Close to 200 people showed up and almost all of them were supporting Mexico,” he told Newsday on the BBC World Service.
“In Kenya, generally speaking, people support Senegal and Cameroon and Central African states, and less South Africa and Morocco.
“The second reason I think is just the timing of the xenophobic attacks. It depends who is playing South Africa, but I think most people would support the other team.”
Daniel Kaniki, a Congolese fan who watched the game at a fan park in the US city of Atlanta, told BBC Sport Africa: “Africa is like one country and if one is chasing others, we are not a family any more. That’s why I’m supporting Mexico.”
Though not everyone agreed.
Ghanaian Vanlare Quist, also at the fan park, said he was rooting for South Africa, adding that he was “a proud African”.
He blamed the anti-immigrant sentiment in South Africa on a few individuals.
Call for attacking players
South Africa will face Czech Republic in their second Group A game on Thursday, 18 June.
Both sides are winless after the Europeans lost 2-1 to South Korea, and Furman hopes for a change in approach after Broos decided to field a 5-3-2 formation against Mexico.
“They have to put this to bed very, very quickly,” the 37-year-old said.
“I know you’re playing against better opposition in a big match and you’re probably looking to soak up the pressure and go a little bit more defensive, but that’s just not our style at all.
“For me, going forward, you’ve got two games left to save yourself, to try and get a victory to get yourself into the next round. Go with our 4-3-3.
“Put your attacking players on, put your number 10s on, your more imaginative players.
“Let’s see what South African football is all about.”
