Bafana Bafana of South Africa’s coach Hugo Broos expressed his displeasure over his team’s display despite their quarter-final win against Cape Verde at the AFCON 2023.
After a goalless draw in regulation time, South Africa defeated Cape Verde 2-1 on penalty shootout.
Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams was the hero as he stopped four spot kicks to help send his side to a first AFCON semi-final appearance since 2000.
Speaking after the match Broos, as cited by Soccer Laduma, said his team has had better performances compared to the game against Cape Verde.
“Our match was not so good, I think we played the worst game of the tournament of all our games. We played better against Mali, we played better against Namibia, Tunisia, also Morocco.
“This was not the team we saw in the previous week. I think for some players it’s a very new experience, and maybe the pressure and the nerves played a role today in the game.”
Also Read: AFCON 2023: South Africa Ready For Super Eagles Challenge –Williams
Broos added: “For Cape Verde it was maybe different, they had nothing to lose. Even I think they are very sad now, but for us there was more to lose and that was played in the heads of the players and therefore we didn’t play like we used to do.
“But ok, I said it already it’s not the way you win [that matters], it’s you win and we won today with penalties. So we are very happy.”
Bafana Bafana will now have to overcome Nigeria’s Super Eagles to reach a first AFCON final since the 1998 edition in Burkina Faso.
This will be the fourth meeting between the Eagles and South Africa, with the former winning in the three previous encounters.
Their first meeting was in the semi-final at AFCON 2000 which the Eagles won 2-0.
At the 2004 tournament in both teams met in their second group game with a Austin Okocha-led side triumphing 4-0.
The last AFCON meeting between the two sides was in the quarter-finals in 2019 and once again the Eagles won 2-1.
5 Comments
Nigeria will win again by the grace of God.
In this semi-final 2024 of Afcon2023 the result will not change. The grace of God is upon Super eagles. The Super Eagles are winning the match. Mark this day.
Nigeria will win, Amen
God is in control. Nigeria is winning on Wednesday. The bafana bafana were lucky to beat Cape Verde. I hope Super Eagles can score early to unsettle the South African team. That was the only thing Cape Verde did wrong against them, and I am so happy that their coach saw it, too he team was good against Cape Verde.
Super Eagles should thank God that they are not playing Cape Verde. That team can be among the best teams in this tournament.
Due to the lack of scoring of the Super Eagles, I predict 2:0 against South Africa. 2:0 is enough for Nigeria, but if Nigeria has to take the game to bafana bafana, the 3:0 will be a well serving result for Nigeria.
Good luck to our darling Super Eagles. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!
This is South African time to win. South Africa has a very good dwarf as a goal keeper. He would frustrate the eagles stickers.What the dwarf lacks in height he makes up for with good reflexes.The eagles cannot seat back an soak up pressure like they did in the last quarter of the game against Angola and win.