South Africa boosted their hopes of reaching the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after fighting back to secure a 1-1 draw against Czechia in their Group A clash on Thursday.
Bafana Bafana looked headed for defeat after conceding early, but Teboho Mokoena held his nerve from the penalty spot late in the game to rescue a valuable point.
Czechia wasted little time asserting themselves, taking the lead in the sixth minute through Michal Sadílek. The midfielder finished off a well-worked move involving Adam Sojka to put the Europeans ahead and pile pressure on South Africa.
The African side struggled to break down Czechia’s defence in the opening half and were forced to defend for long periods. Mokoena and Thalente Mbatha were both booked as they tried to disrupt their opponents’ rhythm.
Trailing 1-0 at halftime, South Africa returned for the second half with greater urgency and gradually began to dominate possession.
Czechia came under increasing pressure as the game wore on, with Ladislav Krejčí receiving a yellow card in the 75th minute as Bafana Bafana intensified their search for an equaliser.
Their persistence finally paid off in the 83rd minute when they were awarded a penalty. Mokoena stepped up and calmly converted the spot-kick, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way and sparking wild celebrations among the South African fans.
The draw leaves South Africa firmly in contention in Group A as they continue their quest for a place in the next round.
