Bafana Bafana land in Mexico without assistant coach Helman Mkhalele who was refused visa by the US embassy

As the Bafana Bafana entourage of players and support staff disembarked from their chartered flight, the assistant coach, Helman Mkhalale, was missing.

Hugo Broos' right-hand man was refused visa by the US embassy as the squad travelled to North America and this meant he remained in South Africa until he is issued with one.

It is not clear why the assistant coach was refused visa but Safa said they are working around the clock to get to the bottom of the situation.

The team left a day late after it was emerged on Sunday, the travelling day, that almost the entire team had no visas.

But government intervention ensured they left on Monday to arrive today ahead of the global spectacle.