Bafana Bafana star admits to naivety

However Mokoena is still holding out hope that South Africa can qualify from the group that also includes Mexico and an under-achieving France side.

Mokoena said: “Uruguay provoked us and we fell into their trap and we stopped playing our football.

“We were all aware about the way they play and what they would be intending to do to us and unfortunately we were a bit naive – that’s what happened.

“It (the Uruguay loss) was one of those things and it’s important that we forget what happened,” said Mokoena on www.kickoff.com.

“We still have a game to play against France and that is important.

“It’s going to be a hard game against France. But for us it is about going back to the drawing board and making sure we are ready for France. We have got to show belief.”