![\"Soccer](\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/thumbor\/nVqt5_go3ZSqdL47KcUgG4ZBE_c=\/750x498\/smart\/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.soccernet.ng%2Fmain%2F2025%2F09%2Fimago1040129234.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
South Africa head coach Hugo Broos. Photo by Ganiyu Yusuf Copyright: Imago<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Idah Peterside has explained what South Africa must do to avoid a group-stage exit at the 2026 World Cup\u00a0tournament,\u00a0Soccernet.ng<\/u><\/a>\u00a0reports.<\/strong><\/p>\n Bafana Bafana began their World Cup campaign with a disappointing performance at the Estadio Azteca, where goals from Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez secured a 2-0 victory for\u00a0co-host Mexico\u00a0on Thursday night.<\/p>\n The match was a feisty encounter, with three red cards shown in total. Mexico had one player sent off, while South Africa were reduced to nine men after Yaya Sithole and Themba Zwane were both dismissed, completing a difficult night for the African side.<\/p>\n Peterside believes South Africa allowed the magnitude of the occasion to affect their performance,\u00a0which led\u00a0to an unusually slow and disjointed\u00a0outing\u00a0compared to their usual standards.<\/p>\n \u201cFirst games are never easy because you have seven, eight billion people watching. The pressure, the tension. Most of these players are home-based players. They don\u2019t play in the big leagues in Europe; they play for Sundowns, Chiefs and Pirates. I think it affected them a little bit\u201d,\u00a0the ex-Moroka Swallows goalkeeper told Footy-Africa.<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u201cFor the first time, I looked at them and you could see how slow they were in their thinking, actions and reactions.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u201cYou could see the Mexicans and the quickness of the ball. Look at the goal they conceded. It was elementary. They were reckless in attack and reckless in defending.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n Bafana Bafana must now avoid defeat in their next group match to prevent falling to the brink of\u00a0an early elimination from the\u00a0tournament.\u00a0What makes their task more difficult is the absence of Sithole and Zwane for their next game due to suspension after their dismissals on the\u00a0opening night.<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n According to Peterside, South Africa still have a realistic chance of progressing from the group despite the opening defeat, but\u00a0must gear up for the challenge that lies ahead.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s psychological. They need to believe. Before this World Cup everybody knew South Africa had a good team. They were playing well and doing well in friendly games\u201d,\u00a0the former Super Eagles goalkeeper added.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u201cI\u00a0think they need a psychologist. Somebody needs to tweak their mind. They need a psychological switch.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n South Africa now need to regroup quickly ahead of their remaining two group matches, where they must\u00a0pick up\u00a0at least four points to stand a strong chance of qualifying for the knockout stage.<\/p>\n A draw\u00a0in their next outing\u00a0could still keep their hopes alive heading into the final matchday, but another defeat could effectively end their chances of reaching the round of\u00a032.<\/p>\n Peterside still believes Bafana Bafana can progress, but warned that there are no easy games\u00a0and they must brace up to face tough opposition in South Korea and Czech Republic.<\/p>\n \u201cKorea will be very difficult to beat. The Czech people are Europeans. They are quick, they are fast, and their players are 6\u20194 and 6\u20195. The South Africans are smaller.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u201cThey need to plan very well, or else, once they lose the next game, they are back home\u201d,\u00a0he concluded.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n South Africa\u00a0will face\u00a0Czech Republic on Thursday, June 18, before concluding their group campaign against South Korea on June 25\u00a0and\u00a0will be aiming to secure qualification to the next round\u00a0for the first time in their history.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n![\"Soccer](\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/thumbor\/16DsxoxiA9zVnR-73lOM5_lZEp4=\/1080x719\/smart\/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.soccernet.ng%2Fmain%2F2026%2F06%2FIMG-20260612-WA0002.jpg\")
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
Soccer How South Africa can bounce back from\u00a0poor World Cup opener<\/h2>\n
![\"Soccer](\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/thumbor\/VTslDGYmEiY8Po-kOVGCm3KsOCk=\/919x613\/smart\/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.soccernet.ng%2Fmain%2F2026%2F06%2FIMG-20260612-WA0000.jpg\")
\n
\n
\n
\n
Soccer Stronger opposition awaits<\/h2>\n
\n
\n
![\"Soccer](\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/thumbor\/3fwIF95JaRELE5K-wBwQtbb8eNw=\/6000x4000\/smart\/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.soccernet.ng%2Fmain%2F2026%2F06%2Fimago1078418611.jpg\")
\n
\n
Ayomide Oguntimehin” src=”https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/thumbor\/ycGEJDr9VZlpO_5zujn3ZdvICxA=\/150×150\/smart\/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.soccernet.ng%2Fmain%2F2024%2F12%2FAyomide-Oguntimehin-pics.jpg” height=”80″ width=”80″>\t\t<\/p>\n