South African head coach, Hugo Broos says the fight for third position in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations will be more of a mental battle than anything.
The Bafana Bafana will face Democratic Republic of Congo in the third-place match at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan on Saturday.
Broos’ side suffered a agonising 4-2 penalty shootout defeat to Nigeria in the semi-final on Wednesday.
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The Belgian tactician who guided South Africa to their first semi-final since 2000, said the key to clinching a third place will be in how they mentally recover from the heart-breaking loss to Nigeria.
“We played a very good game against Nigeria. It was a great performance and we showed that we are a great team again,” he told CAFonline.
“When you exit after 120 minutes, it’s always a huge disappointment. When you play so good, the disappointment is so big. The game tomorrow is special.
“It depends a bit on which team will be mentally recovered because also for DRC, it was difficult to lose like that”.
3 Comments
This coach is so embittered that they lost to Nigeria in that fashion and have easily forgotten that Cape verde played beautiful football against them yet they crashed-out while SA progressed. Football is all about being clinical and take your chances when they come. Anyways, i think SA should defeat DRC.
This guy needs to leave Nigeria’s name out of his mouth now – we no longer have any business – the business is concluded and Nigeria won – Typical of Africans, they will always want to be calling the name Nigeria – if it is not to tell lies about us and try to defame us, it will be to try and delude themselves into thinking that they are somehow on our level
Oga Bros, leave Nigeria out of your mouth and concentrate on your own job in hand, no one alive is going to accept your excuse that you are already preparing now that after you lose to the DRC, you will still blame Nigeria and say it was the heartbreaking loss to the SE of Nigeria and Africa that made you useless in your 3rd place match o! Shine your eye very well, he that has ears let him hear word! lol
When you have refused to recover from the lost, how will your players recover and has DRC sent you fax that made you to know they have not recovered.
I Know it would have been easy for you if there wasn’t that contact that gave you the penalty and the second goal wasn’t cancelled afterward.
I think your song supposed to be my team lack experience and composure in front of goal not blaming Nigeria for you lost. And if you should keep this up you may add salt to injury.