The defeat was compounded by disciplinary setbacks, with South Africa finishing the match with nine men.
The South African government has urged Bafana Bafana to remain focused and confident despite a disappointing start to their FIFA World Cup campaign.
The team suffered a 2-0 defeat to co-hosts Mexico in their opening Group match on Thursday night.
Deputy Government Spokesperson William Baloyi said South Africans remained proud of the national team and expressed confidence in its ability to recover in the remaining group-stage fixtures, state broadcaster SABC reports.
The defeat was compounded by disciplinary setbacks, with South Africa finishing the match with nine men after Siphephelo Sithole and Themba Zwane were both shown red cards. The pair will miss Bafana Bafana’s next match against the Czech Republic next Thursday.
Playing standards
Head coach Hugo Broos acknowledged that the occasion may have affected his players but insisted the result was not a reflection of declining standards within the squad.
“I don’t think it’s a drop in the standards of my players; it’s just the fact that this level is much higher than whatever level. We are playing in the World Cup, we are playing against a good team,” South Africa Head Coach Hugo Broos said after the match.
Broos admitted his side needs to improve its attacking play ahead of the crucial clash against the Czech Republic.
“Offensively, I think we have to improve. There were some opportunities that with the last pass the running of our players was not the right one. So I think this is something to improve in the next days and I am sure we can play the same game but be better offensively,” he said.
Players sent off
Broos also pointed to the two red cards as a major factor in the outcome, saying they disrupted South Africa’s game plan.
“It’s not nice for both players to get a red card in the first game of the World Cup. I think the first red card you have to accept it after Yaya (Siphephelo Sithole) committed a foul on a player on his way goalwards,” he said.
While accepting the referee’s decision on the first dismissal, Broos questioned the second red card.
Despite the setback and the suspension of two key players, Broos remained optimistic about his team's prospects.
“We have two players who can’t play in the next game, but we still have other players and again, if we can show the same mentality and the same way we played today, I am sure that we will have good results in the next two games,” he said.
South Africa now faces mounting pressure to secure points against the Czech Republic as it seeks to keep its hopes of advancing to the knockout stages alive.
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