It is not the first time they have been in such a scenario at the global finals, with their three previous second pool matches at the World Cup providing something akin to the good, the bad and the ugly.
In every one of the games they have played to date, there has been at least one red card. Let’s hope that run ends in 2026.
Here is a look back at how they have fared at this stage of the competition.
1998 World Cup
Bafana’s clash with Mexico in their opener this year was not their only World Cup game to have three red cards. The second pool fixture against Denmark in 1998 also featured a red mist, but this time it was their opponents who finished with nine men.
Allan Nielsen gave the Danes the lead on 13 minutes, but Benni McCarthy equalised six minutes into the second period for Bafana’s first ever World Cup goal.
Alfred Phiri and Miklos Molnar both saw red after a clash on 68 minutes, before Morten Wieghorst was also sent off near the end.
Quinton Fortune hit the crossbar late on as South Africa could have snatched it. That would prove crucial later on.
Team: Hans Vonk, Mark Fish, Pierre Issa, David Nyathi (Delron Buckley 89’), Lucas Radebe, Quinton Fortune, Helman Mkhalele, John Moshoeu, Brendan Augustine (Alfred Phiri 46’), Shaun Bartlett (Phil Masinga 78’), Benedict McCarthy. Coach: Philippe Troussier.
2002 World Cup
A first ever World Cup victory for South Africa at the fifth attempt and it came against a country from the same region as the Czech Republic. An omen?
It was no World Cup classic, but Bafana did not care as they were finally on the board and deserved winners in the end.
The goal was perhaps in keeping with the game, scrappy, as a free-kick was sent into the box and Siyabonga Nomvethe steered the ball into the net off his thigh.
Clearly he was going for the ball, but did he mean it like that? No. But they all count.
That goal came after just four minutes and settled the Bafana nerves as they held on for the win.
Slovenian coach Srečko Katanec received a red card early in the second half.
Team: Andre Arendse, Aaron Mokoena, Lucas Radebe, Bradley Carnell, Cyril Nzama, MacBeth Sibaya, Tebeho Mokoena, Quinton Fortune (Jabu Pule 84’), Sibusiso Zuma, Siyabonga Nomvethe (Delron Buckley 71’), Benedict McCarthy (George Koumantarakis 80’). Coach: Jomo Sono.
2010 World Cup
Bafana were coming off a credible 1-1 draw with Mexico in their opener in 2010, where they might have snatched victory at the end after Katlego Mphela missed from close range.
Next up was an in-form Uruguay, who would go on to reach the semi-finals and took Bafana apart on a cold night in Pretoria.
Diego Forlan was the architect with an opening goal midway through the first half and then a penalty late on after goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune was sent off for a foul.
Alvaro Pereira added a third deep into injury time to cap a dismal night for the World Cup hosts.
They would go on to beat France 2-1 in their final fixture, but this heavy defeat meant their goal difference took a knock and they bowed out despite finishing level on four points with Mexico.
Team: Itumeleng Khune, Siboniso Gaxa, Tsepo Masilela, Bongani Khumalo, Aaron Mokoena, Reneilwe Letsholonyane (Surprise Moriri 57’), Kagisho Dikgacoi, Steven Pienaar (Moeneb Josephs 79’), Teko Modise, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Katlego Mphela. Coach: Carlos Alberto Parreira.