Bafana Bafana midfielder Teboho Mokoena reflected on a sombre dressing room atmosphere following their World Cup exit, admitting the squad was left heartbroken after a narrow defeat.

South Africa put up a great fight but their journey at the World Cup came to an end at the Round of 32 stage of the tournament.

Bafana were eliminated from the competition after they suffered a 1-0 defeat to co-hosts Canada in an historic last 32 encounter in Los Angeles.

Mokoena pointed to missed opportunities as a key lesson for the team moving forward, noting that their opponents made the most of limited chances in a cruel but valuable learning experience.

“It was so quiet in the locker room,” Mokoena told the media after the match.

“Everybody is sad, that is how we are feeling right now. We felt we could have done much better, especially after how we lost the game.

“I know we can be proud of ourselves by creating history, but the way we lost is still bittersweet, you know.

“At the highest level, the margins are very small. When you get your chances, you must convert, you know.

They didn’t get many chances; they got one, and they scored. So that’s the lesson we take going forward.”