South Africa head coach, Hugo Broos, has claimed that their 2-0 defeat to Mexico in the opening game of the 2026 World Cup, was down to poor tactical composure.
Hugo also cited costly individual mistakes for their loss to the co-hosts.
Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez scored for the Mexicans in either half, as they took all three points in front of their fans.
Bafana Bafana were reduced to nine men after Sphephelo Sithole and Themba Zwane received straight red cards.
Mexico also saw Cesar Montes sent off in stoppage them, but took all three points.
Broos said: “When the first goal comes, I don’t think I need to say something about it. But when they scored the second goal, the Mexican player brought my player down. That happens; the referee decides something else.
“But it’s a little pity that we had to finish this game with nine players.
“I think my team played a good game. Some moments we were in the game, and Mexico were even desperate. They didn’t know how to find the space.
“Everything was good, but the only thing we had to work on was learning how to keep possession.
“In the first 20 minutes, the Mexico side kept my team under pressure, and for the two mistakes my team conceded in a moment when we didn’t have to lose the ball, we got punished.”