We must raise our game in AFCON knockout stage – Teboho Mokoena

Mokoena was speaking in the mixed zone after last night’s narrow 3-2 win over Zimbabwe, a result which saw Bafana Bafana progressing to the knockout phase of the competition. The Mamelodi Sundowns midfield kingpin says they need to step up...

"We are happy as a team to go to the next round, but I think the real tournament starts now so we definitely have to improve. We have conceded so many goals already and we must improve that."

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Back home, there’s been a lot of talk about Bafana going all the way to win this year’s AFCON title, and the bronze medal from the Ivory Coast edition raised these expectations.

Mokoena, a vital cog in Bafana’s midfield, acknowledges that.    

"We got nervous when they scored the second one, and then we scored, and then they were committing numbers up front and I think we were panicking a little bit, and we should've been calmer on the ball because when we're in control we play so much better."

Towards the end of this game, Bafana were tested by the neighbours, and Mokoena admits it was nervy, with them panicking, but experience saw them through.

Bafana will know after today’s games and how Group F is decided, about their next opponent this coming Sunday in the last 16 stage, a game that will take place at the Al Medina Stadium in Rabat, with Cameroon the most likely opponent.

Mokoena says they are ready for any team...