NEWS: Teboho Mokoena bullish about Bafana’s World Cup qualification hopes

There is increased optimism that Bafana will qualify for the global showpiece as non-hosts for the first time since 2004 after a 3-1 victory away against Ethiopia on Saturday.

That was preceded by a 0-0 draw with Zimbabwe away and a 1-0 victory over Ghana at home, which leaves Hugo Broos’ men top of the group with seven points from three matches.

Mokoena opened the scoring in Ethiopia with a free-kick followed up by strikes from Mothobi Mvala and Evidence Makgopa.

And the SuperSport United playmaker has reflected on his first goal for the national side and suggested it was a direct ploy to target Ethiopia’s inexperienced goalkeeper Fasil Gebremichael, who they identified prior to the match as a weak link in the Walia Ibex side.

“As a team, we analysed Ethiopia and we knew where their weakest links were and when I stepped up for that free-kick, I knew what I was doing and the ball went in,” Mokoena told Safa media yesterday.

“I have been waiting for that moment and I’ve always wanted to score for the national team and when that goal went in, I was like: finally, I made it. Now I’m hungry for more.

“For me, every time I get a call-up, it is always an honour and privilege to represent my country and I’m very honoured to be here.

“It is the proudest moment of my life to represent the country.”

And the 24-year-old has vowed to the nation that Bafana will qualify for the 2022 edition in Qatar.

“We’ve been speaking about vision 2022 since 2015 and I’m there now,” said Mokoena.

“We are the group that will take the team to the World Cup.”

Looking ahead to the second successive clash against Ethiopia on Tuesday at FNB Stadium, the 2019 PSL young player of the season said that Bafana won’t sit back and will be going all out for the three points.

“We are very positive going into tomorrow’s game,” he said. “It is going to be a hard match. They are a good side and we must take the game to them and fight until the end.”