Ime Okon Says Bafana Bafana's World Cup Run Still Gives Him Chills

South Africa defender Ime Okon has opened up on what it meant to make his World Cup debut with Bafana Bafana, and what carrying that experience back to Hannover 96 could do for his club career.

The 22 year old centre-back told his club's website that the tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, still feels surreal weeks later. "It is something special for every footballer to play this tournament. For me, the World Cup was a dream come true. Many moments still go through my head," Okon said. "That was just crazy. To play in a stadium like this and play the opening game straight away is probably the greatest moment of my career so far."

South Africa reached the Round of 16, the country's best-ever finish at the tournament and the first time Bafana Bafana have advanced beyond the group stage. "We made it past the group stage of a World Cup for the first time. We can be very proud of that as a team and as a country," Okon said.

He believes the exposure will sharpen him for the 2. Bundesliga. "You play against the best players in the world at a World Cup. The duels against top attackers were a valuable experience," he added.

Okon returned to a hero's welcome at Hannover 96, where staff applauded him into a team dinner before he joined the squad in Austria for pre-season. The club open their 2. Bundesliga campaign away at VfL Wolfsburg on Sunday, August 16.