Hours before the highly anticipated 2026 FIFA World Cup opening clash, Mexico head coach Javier Aguirre has thrown a massive spotlight on South African football, reservedly praising Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana sensation Relebohile Mofokeng.
Addressing the media ahead of tonight’s blockbuster opener in Mexico City, the 67-year-old tactician confessed that Hugo Broos’ men present a uniquely dangerous threat—and he singled out Mofokeng as a player destined for the absolute top.
High Praise for the Buccaneers Prodigy
Aguirre, who knows a thing or two about elite talent, compared the dynamic 21-year-old winger to Mexico’s own highly-rated teenage prodigy, Gilberto Mora.
“I have the utmost respect for them. It won’t be an easy game,” Aguirre admitted. “A lot of them have grown together, and they have done well in the Africa Cup. Mofokeng, I really like him. He’ll go to Europe, he’s like Mora, a real player.”
Aguirre’s Bafana Hoodoo
The veteran manager’s respect for South African football is born out of historical heartbreak. In three career meetings against Bafana Bafana, Aguirre has never tasted victory:
- 2005: Lost 2-1 with Mexico in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
- 2010: Held to a 1-1 draw in the iconic 2010 World Cup opener at Soccer City.
- 2019: Knocked out of the AFCON Round of 16 (1-0) while managing hosts Egypt.
Reflecting on that infamous 2019 night in Cairo, Aguirre joked: “You beat us and I hate you for that! Ronwen Williams is the only one left from that team. South Africa have done well. They are a fierce team—not exactly a traditional African style, but a mix with European football under a Belgian coach.”
With kick-off looming at 21:00 (SA Time), all eyes will be on whether Mofokeng can justify the El Tri boss’s high praise on the world’s grandest stage.
