Mexico City iconic Azteca Stadium don finally finish long renovation, and e dey set to host World Cup opener on Thursday. BBC correspondent Will Grant get inside access to di massive arena before di first match of di tournament.
South Africa go face Mexico for di opening fixture, and dis one be historic rematch of di 2010 World Cup opener wey dem play for Soccer City, Johannesburg. Dat time, Siphiwe Tshabalala score banging left-foot goal wey give Bafana Bafana 1-0 lead, but di game end 1-1. Now, 16 years later, dem go meet again for Mexico City.
Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos talk say im side no dey dwell for old memories. Broos tell ESPN, ‘I don’t think di team need dat inspiration. E be great moment for South Africa, long time ago, but now e be 2026. We dey play tomorrow against Mexico, and di guys excited enough. We no need to talk of dat Tshabalala goal.’
Broos add say, ‘E be nice memory, and I get my own nice memories of 40 years ago as player for Belgium for 1986 World Cup for Mexico.’
South Africa fail to escape group for 2010, become first host nation to crash out for first round. But Tshabalala goal remain iconic moment for di country football history, like di Africa Cup of Nations win for 1996. Since Broos take over for 2021, di team don see revival. Di 73-year-old coach wey guide Cameroon to AFCON title for 2017 don bring back di fans.
Broos yarn say, ‘You know di history of Bafana. For last five years, we dey play for empty stadiums, but now stadiums full, more and more people come watch month on month. Di enthusiasm don increase, so people now expect us to win World Cup already.’ He laugh say, ‘Dat one small unrealistic, but we feel di warmth and support from South Africans. Dem go see team wey dem go proud of.’
Midfielder Teboho Mokoena, wey be one of di players wey finally return to World Cup after long wait, talk say di team no dey focus on 2010. Di 29-year-old say, ‘We no dey talk about am much. I only remember Tshabalala goal because I was young. As team, we want create our own history. We know our country never reach knockout stages, but we no get pressure. Di pressure dey on Mexico as hosts. We prepared for dis game, and we dey look forward to am.’
