South Africa midfielder Aubrey Modiba said Bafana Bafana believe they can add to the World Cup’s string of surprise results when they meet Canada in the Last 32 in Inglewood on Sunday. South Africa beat South Korea 1-0 in Monterrey on Wednesday to finish second in Group A behind Mexico and advance to the knockout stages for the first time.
Canada fell 2-1 to Switzerland on Wednesday and dropped into second place in their group, meaning the tournament co-hosts will play in California rather than Vancouver. Jesse Marsch’s side are ranked 31st in the world, while South Africa sit 54th following their win.
Modiba told ESPN he and his teammates are not taking Canada for granted, noting the number of upsets at the tournament so far. “You can’t take any team here for granted to be honest, there have been a lot of upsets,” he said, adding that South Africa will study Canada’s games and prepare accordingly. “It will be like they are playing at home,” Modiba said.
The South Africa performance against South Korea marked a contrast with their opening defeat by Mexico and the first half of a 1-1 draw with Czechia. Thapelo Maseko’s 63rd-minute goal, set up by a cross from Tshepang Moremi a minute after he entered, sealed progression after an expansive display in which South Africa registered more than four times as many shots as they had in the opener against Mexico.
Modiba reiterated respect for Canada’s higher ranking but promised South Africa would contest the game. “They’re above us in the rankings and playing at home, so like I said, we’re going to respect them,” he said. Should Bafana progress, they would face the winner of the June 29 match between the Group F winner (Netherlands, Japan or Sweden) and Morocco in Houston on July 4.
