Can perennial underdogs Bafana Bafana be the top dog against Canada?

In Los Angeles

The first rule of supporting Bafana Bafana is that you do not hype them.

The second rule is that YOU DO NOT hype Bafana.

The South African men's senior national team operates in a weird paradigm where criticism and setbacks fuel the side, but triumph and praise appear to hamper them.

Bafana have typecast themselves as a perennial underdog on the continent, but the country's financial muscle, the strength of the local Premier Soccer League and resources available mean they ought to be among the top dogs in African football.

This identity crisis will be put to the test when Bafana take on Canada on Sunday at 21:00 South African time in the round of 32 of the FIFA World Cup at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

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South Africans, who had given up on the team doing something meaningful at this World Cup after their poor display in the opening match, have started to dream - so much so that they see this team going to Houston, for the round of 16, where either the Netherlands or Morocco lie in wait.

South Africans who have been following the team in the group stage started scrambling for tickets in Los Angeles a day after Bafana stunned South Korea with a 1-0 win that guaranteed a second-place finish in Group A - to set up a date with Canada.

Bafana had their backs against the wall leading up to the clash with the Asians.

South Africa's talisman Teboho Mokoena had been suspended, with his replacement being Sphephelo Sithole, who had a poor game against Mexico. Themba Zwane was still serving his three-match ban.

Jayden Adams had just lost his grandmother, who died on the eve of the clash with Czechia.

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