South Africa has been sent packing from the 2026 FIFA World Cup as Canada eliminated the Bafana Bafana with a narrow 1-0 win.
A 92nd minute late strike from Stephen Eustaquio was all Canada needed to knock the South Africans out of the campaign.
Eustaquio received the ball on the edge of the South Africa penalty area and hammered it past diving goalkeeper Ronwen Williams in a thrilling conclusion to the first knockout-round match of the World Cup.
Having finished second in Group A, the Bafana Bafana were paired against the Canadians, who also finished second in Group B, for the Round of 32.
Both teams failed to create goal scoring chances at the first half, with little to separate the sides, who were both playing in the knockout rounds for the first time.
Canada’s best opening reportedly came just before halftime when a corner sparked a scramble in the South Africa box, Moise Bombito sending a header goalward that was cleared off the line by South Africa’s Aubrey Modiba before Tajon Buchanan’s close-range effort struck Williams in the chest.
More detail later…