Hugo Broos has said South Africa can “kill’ him if he does not guide Bafana Bafana past the group stages at the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals in the Ivory Coast in January.
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Broos had previously indicated that South Africa could metaphorically take his life if he did not get the team to the Afcon finals, and Bafana’s chances were in the balance following disappointing 2-2 draw at home to Liberia on Friday.
Tuesday’s 2-1 win over Liberia in Monrovia, however, means Bafana will definitely play in the Afcon finals for the first time since 2019, and Broos has already set himself a target to get to at least the knockout rounds in the Ivory Coast.
“I will say what I said in the beginning, kill me if we don’t go through the group stages at the Afcon next year,” Broos told SABC Sport, after goals from Zakhele Lepasa and Mihlali Mayambela had secured a victory for his side at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex.
Broos’ decision to start with Lepasa and Mayambela proved to be a masterstroke, as both got on the scoresheet. Broos also gave a chance to Siphesihle Sithole in central midfield, and put Innocent Maela and Nyiko Mobbie in at full back.
Power play
“We knew that they play a power game, with the long ball” added Broos.
“And they fight, so I also needed guys who fight. We thought with Maela, Sithole and Mayambela we could do something today and we did it.”
Broos reiterated that a country of South Africa’s stature should always play at the Africa Cup of Nations. Before making it to next year’s finals, Bafana had only qualified for three of the previous seven editions.
“This is a country that should be in the Africa Cup of Nations every time and I didn’t understand why we didn’t go in the last years. This is a good team and a young team and international games are very important for international experience.
“Now we can only progress in the next months and be ready for the Afcon.”
