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Bloemfontein - South Africa skipper Aaron Mokoena has told Football365.co.za that he has mixed emotions about Bafana's victory over ten-man France on Tuesday.
Goals from Bongani Khumalo and Katlego Mphela gave Bafana a 2-1 victory over former world champions France, who lost Yoann Gourcuff early and netted a late goal through Florent Malouda.
However, the result was not enough to prevent the hosts from crashing out of the World Cup on goal difference, with Uruguay and Mexico progressing from Group A - much to Mokoena's obvious disappointment.
He exclusively told this website: "Thinking about the result today, it could have been better, but coming up with the victory against France is a real positive. But it is a mixed feeling, we really wanted to go through very badly, but it didn't happen.
"But looking at our performance throughout the tournament, I don't think we did badly. I mean one draw (1-1 with Mexico) and one loss (3-0 to Uruguay) and one win and going out on goal difference.
"I don't think that is bad at all. I have mixed feelings and I'm sad that we didn't go through."
The 29-year-old reveals that when his side went 2-0 up he thought that they were on their way to the next round.
He continued: "I thought we had it when we were two goals up and we created enough chances that could have taken us through to the next round.
"But I'm very, very proud of the boys and I'm proud of everyone who is connected with the team. We have made the country proud."
The Portsmouth defender added it was important for Bafana to bounce back after their 3-0 defeat to Uruguay.
"It was important for us to win on Tuesday, we knew that playing against such a tough side we needed to believe in ourselves and play our own football and give it all, and that is exactly what we did.
"And like I said, I'm very, very proud of the boys and that we managed to re-group and focus on today's game," he concluded.
Goals from Bongani Khumalo and Katlego Mphela gave Bafana a 2-1 victory over former world champions France, who lost Yoann Gourcuff early and netted a late goal through Florent Malouda.
However, the result was not enough to prevent the hosts from crashing out of the World Cup on goal difference, with Uruguay and Mexico progressing from Group A - much to Mokoena's obvious disappointment.
He exclusively told this website: "Thinking about the result today, it could have been better, but coming up with the victory against France is a real positive. But it is a mixed feeling, we really wanted to go through very badly, but it didn't happen.
"But looking at our performance throughout the tournament, I don't think we did badly. I mean one draw (1-1 with Mexico) and one loss (3-0 to Uruguay) and one win and going out on goal difference.
"I don't think that is bad at all. I have mixed feelings and I'm sad that we didn't go through."
The 29-year-old reveals that when his side went 2-0 up he thought that they were on their way to the next round.
He continued: "I thought we had it when we were two goals up and we created enough chances that could have taken us through to the next round.
"But I'm very, very proud of the boys and I'm proud of everyone who is connected with the team. We have made the country proud."
The Portsmouth defender added it was important for Bafana to bounce back after their 3-0 defeat to Uruguay.
"It was important for us to win on Tuesday, we knew that playing against such a tough side we needed to believe in ourselves and play our own football and give it all, and that is exactly what we did.
"And like I said, I'm very, very proud of the boys and that we managed to re-group and focus on today's game," he concluded.
