Politics is costing Bafana Bafana — Ex-Sundowns star’s blunt verdict after Czech draw

Former Mamelodi Sundowns star Benson Mhlongo has fired a broadside at the selection politics he believes are holding Bafana Bafana back.

South Africa kept their 2026 FIFA World Cup hopes alive on Thursday with a hard-earned 1-1 draw against Czechia at Atlanta Stadium.

Speaking exclusively to Afrik-Foot South Africa, Mhlongo pulled no punches—aiming at Hugo Broos’ tactical decisions.

Both sides came into the Group A clash having lost their opening fixtures, with Bafana Bafana beaten 2-0 by Mexico and Czechia falling to South Korea.

Czechia struck early to take the lead, and it took a Teboho Mokoena penalty in the 83rd minute to rescue a point for Hugo Broos’ men.

Bafana Bafana’s Tactical Approach: “They Did 50%”

The tactical story of the match was one of a job only half done for Mhlongo. Broos set up with a deeply defensive shape in the first half, and while the system shifted after the break, he felt the change came too late and did not go far enough.

“They didn’t do it fully. In the last game we had a system that gave us seven defenders — three at the back with four in midfield. Even today we were still sitting with seven defenders, because in the middle of the park we had three defensive midfielders. So they just changed the way they sat on the pitch in the first half — it wasn’t a formation change per se. Only in the second half did we go back to our original formation, a 4-2-1-3 with a number 10. They did about 50% of what was expected.” he told Afrik Foot ZA

How Broos’ Substitutions Cost South Africa the Win

Mhlongo felt the second half showed what Bafana were capable of when the number 10 and attacking players worked in closer combination—but argued that the bench failed to press the advantage when it mattered most.

“My expectation was a system where the number 10 and the attacking players were closer together to support the front three. That only came in the second half, and it worked — we had more possession and got into the box more. After about 15 minutes of that, they should have substituted the wingers and brought in fresh legs to put pressure on and see if they could crack Czechia. But we were still cautious. The bench didn’t help by bringing on personnel who could sustain that momentum. The bigger players were tired after 40 minutes — that is when you need to apply the pressure.”

“Politics Plays a Role” — Mhlongo’s Explosive Bafana Selection Claim

With speedy, wide options available on the bench, Mhlongo pointed to something more uncomfortable than tactics.

“We had speedy players on the outside who could have made a difference, but sometimes I think politics plays a role. We sacrifice players from one team because the country will complain, instead of looking at who is strong and who can contribute.”

Teboho Mokoena World Cup 2026: Match-Winner — But Still Only 50%

Mokoena converted the late penalty that earned Bafana their point, yet even that could not fully satisfy Mhlongo, who felt the midfielder had been well below the standard he set during the qualifiers.

“Mokoena’s performance is always the same — quiet. But I think now it is starting to get a little cocky. For me, he was only playing at 50%. He did not give me 100%. The Mokoena I know from last season, from the qualifiers, was giving 100%. When the team cannot score, you need to step in, create more shots, and be intentional about making chances.”

Bafana Bafana fight back to earn a draw, and it ends 1-1 against Czechia at the Atlanta Stadium, thanks to a Teboho Mokoena penalty in the second half#BafanaBafana#BafanaPride#FifaWorldCup pic.twitter.com/vqwaJdMJo4

— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) June 18, 2026

Bafana Bafana Player Ratings vs Czechia: “No One Stood Out”

Asked to name a standout performer from the draw, Mhlongo was blunt.

“No one. Starting with Ronwen — he did not make great distribution, though the goals conceded were breakthroughs from open play. Mbokazi played well but was not a standout. Adams was OK. The ones who really tried were Appollis and Maseko. The substitution of Rayners was costly — he was giving them real trouble in the box in the first half, but he was taken off at the break before he had any real support. We should have rotated the attacking players so we could sustain that pressure. This is the first time I will say the team got it wrong — they seemed scared to go all out.”

South Africa vs South Korea World Cup 2026: What to Expect

South Africa must now beat South Korea to have any realistic chance of progression, but Mhlongo admitted his confidence in the coaching staff’s decision-making had taken a knock.

“I don’t know what to expect, because I thought in this game we were going to use all our attacking players to win. So I don’t know what they are thinking. Maybe I am still a young coach who must learn from the big guys. But for me, if it were up to me, I would go all out — give the first attacking players five minutes to get me goals. If they cannot deliver, I bring in other attacking players to get me goals.”

South Africa now face South Korea on June 25 in Monterrey, knowing that a positive result will give them a genuine shot at the knockout rounds.