The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has sent a message to Bafana Bafana star Teboho Mokoena after he paid tribute to Cristiano Ronaldo with his goal celebration during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Mokoena's Crucial Goal Against Czechia
Mokoena converted a second-half penalty to keep South Africa's knockout stage hopes alive in the tournament. The Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder scored in the 83rd minute to earn a 1-1 draw against Czechia in Atlanta, after Michal Sadilek had opened the scoring within six minutes.
Mokoena's goal made him the first South African to score at a World Cup in 16 years and the 10th overall in the country's history.
Celebration Honoring Ronaldo
After scoring, Mokoena performed Cristiano Ronaldo's 'peace of mind' celebration, which the Portuguese star debuted in October 2022 while playing for Manchester United against Everton at Goodison Park. CAF acknowledged Mokoena's tribute with a special message.
Emotional Moments and Yellow Card
Mokoena was seen getting emotional during the South African national anthem before the match. However, he will miss the crucial final group game against South Korea after receiving a second yellow card of the tournament.
Mokoena's Reaction
Speaking after the match, Mokoena expressed his joy: 'I never thought as a kid that I would be here. It's a dream come true. I am proud of the team, even though, unfortunately, we didn't win. But we got all the support. I don't know how I am feeling, but I am excited by how we fought today. I think everyone back home is proud. We showed up today.'
He added: 'Like I said, I'm excited, the way we played, the way we showed up. We were brave, we were confident on the ball, we were also good off the ball. I think the team did very well today, and we can be proud of ourselves.'
South Africa's Qualification Hopes
South Africa will face South Korea on June 25, while Mexico takes on Czechia in the final Group A match. Bafana Bafana could advance as one of the eight best third-placed teams if they beat South Korea and secure four points in the group.
