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Former Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has admitted that South Africa deserved to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Bafana Bafana topped their qualifying group, which also featured Nigeria, to secure a place at the global showpiece for the first time since hosting the tournament in 2010.
The Super Eagles, on the other hand, missed out on qualification for a second consecutive World Cup after losing to the Democratic Republic of Congo on penalties in the final round of the African playoffs.
Troost-Ekong Backs Bafana Bafana
Troost-Ekong acknowledged that South Africa earned their ticket to the tournament through greater consistency during the qualifying campaign.
Read Also:World Cup 2026: Troost-Ekong Backs Ghana To Earn Point Against England
“Bafana were consistent in the qualifiers, and we were playing catch-up from the first game, and we dropped a lot of points, so at the end they qualified and we didn’t. So, they deserve to be at the World Cup,” the centre-back told Supersport.
Crunch South Korea Test
Bafana Bafana began their campaign at the ongoing World Cup with a disappointing 2-0 defeat to co-hosts Mexico before battling to a 1-1 draw against Czechia in their second Group A match.
The former African champions must now beat South Korea in their final group game at the Estadio Monterrey in Mexico on Thursday to secure a place in the Round of 32.
Troost-Ekong believed it will be a difficult task for South Africa especially without suspended duo Themba Zwane and Teboho Mokoena.
“It’s going to be challenging for Bafana, especially because they will be missing some players due to suspension. It’s going to be a huge pressure game. They were a lot better against Czechia, but it won’t be easy for them to beat Korea,” added Troost-Ekong.
By Adeboye Amosu
5 Comments
Ex-Captain William Troost-Ekong calling balls and strikes. It is refreshing.
While some fans continue to wallow in delusion, the players, deep down, know that they did not deserve to qualify for The World Cup . They weren’t good enough.
Honesty is the best policy.
Ekong your brother Ndidi, is about to be sold by his Turkish club.
Most of you guys are over hype and below average. Am not saying you didn’t win any medal for us, you did but the major failure of missing out on two world cup is too grievance.
While we put so much blame on nff and the coach, on so many occasions you guys lack ambission.
Wonderful points @Wike. Some of those players are weak .
Very correct Tony and Wike
You both make good points
The commitment from our guys zero commitment not a single sacrifice for the football fans, no single will to put our flag among the other countries
I heard there are some crisis going on with Senegalese national team, even way b4 the afcon, But the players always play with thesame ambition just for senegal….
Few of our players shows desire to be there but sincerely speaking just few…
Hahahahaha….the players are suddenly not good enough.
It was the players who subbed on a striker instead of closing shop with an extra defender, leading to conceding a late equaliser vs Zimbabwe in Uyo (2 points dropped)
It was also the players who got tactically shackled and helpless for 100 mins vs DRC in the WC playoffs……..LMAOoooo
But when we defeated Algeria without conceding a shot at goal in the entire game at AFCON, it was the coach……LMAOooo
Hypocrisy at its peak.
It was these same players (then in their teens and early twenties) that a mere PE teacher and mechanic used to achieve unimaginable things only a while back.
We will never stop reminding them…….LMAOoo
Back then, when the team won, it was the players; when they lost it was Rohr. The coach got his pay slashed for winning bronze at the AFCON then, but now, when the team wins it Chelle, when they dont its the players; Chelle wins bronze at AFCON and they are requesting his pay be doubled………LMAOoooo
Bunch of hypocrites.
Y’all have not started crying ehn……..LMAOooo…..you’ll still shed tears through your ears when the time comes.