Africa achieved a record nine teams competing in the World Cup knockout stage. However, South Africa’s run ended with a loss in their first elimination match, dashing hopes for a prolonged campaign. Despite this setback, several other African nations remain in contention for the championship. The defeat marks the end of the road for Bafana Bafana in this tournament. Focus now shifts to the remaining qualified African teams and their upcoming schedules. Further details regarding the opponents and match dates for these teams will be released shortly. This result concludes South Africa’s participation while highlighting the overall strong African presence in the competition.