Ekong praises South African stopper Mbokazi in spite of elimination

William Troost-Ekong, former captain of the Super Eagles, has singled out Mbekezile Mbokazi as South Africa's standout performer at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a tournament from which Bafana Bafana were eliminated in the Round of 32 following a 1-0 loss to Canada.

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The Chicago Fire FC defender, Mbokazi, put in a solid performance at the heart of South Africa's defense, keeping Canada's attack at bay for significant periods before Stephen Eustáquio scored the decisive goal, sending Canada through to the Round of 16.

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Troost-Ekong, speaking on SuperSport, specifically highlighted Mbokazi's impressive display, rating him above his teammates in the South African squad, and also noted that Okon had a notable amount of possession during the game.

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According to Troost-Ekong, Mbokazi's excellence was a remarkable aspect of South Africa's campaign, with the defender's performance being particularly noteworthy, as evidenced by his statement that "I think it says a lot to say that Mbokazi was the best player on the South Africa side."

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Troost-Ekong also believed that South Africa's cautious approach in the second half ultimately proved to be their downfall, as they adopted a more attacking mindset in the final 30 minutes but were unable to find the goal they needed, with Troost-Ekong stating "I think in the second half there were opportunities towards the last half hour; they opened up to be a little more attacking-minded."

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He further explained that this wait-and-see approach, in anticipation of extra time, ultimately cost them the game, as expressed in his comment "They were waiting to see what would happen in extra time and I think that cost them today."

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Troost-Ekong attributed Mbokazi's growth as a player to his move from Orlando Pirates to Chicago Fire FC during the winter transfer window, arguing that the experience of playing in the MLS has been beneficial for the defender, particularly in a World Cup year.

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He stated that "The step-up for him to the MLS has helped to continue his development in a year that is a World Cup year," and expressed his belief that this experience will have a lasting impact on Mbokazi's career, saying "It makes sure that he is playing and I think after this tournament, he can look back and see this is what he learned."