Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos is feeling positive as the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco draws near. After a morale-boosting 3-1 victory against Zambia in a friendly match, Broos believes his team is almost ready for the continental football showpiece. The tournament is scheduled to run from December 21st to January 18th.
While some AFCON-bound teams scheduled two friendlies during the FIFA international break, South Africa opted for just one. Broos confirmed that Bafana Bafana will play only one more friendly before the tournament. He feels that playing more games against African opposition isn't necessary, stating they've played enough against African teams in recent years.
"No, we will play one game. I don’t like to play two or three games before we go,” Broos said. “We played enough games against African teams so we don’t have to play against another African team.”
Despite the win against Zambia, Broos admitted it wasn't Bafana Bafana's best performance, citing a slow tempo in the first half. However, he was pleased that the team capitalized on scoring opportunities.
“I’m happy again with the victory, I’m happy again that we could do what we wanted to do before the game, just giving play time to the other players...I think we can be proud of the past year again, and the most important thing is going to the AFCON next month,” Broos added.
The match also marked a significant milestone for midfielder Teboho Mokoena, who celebrated his 50th cap for the national team. SAFA vice president Linda Zwane praised Mokoena's commitment and contribution to South African football.
A lot is expected from South Africa at AFCON, especially after their bronze medal win in Ivory Coast two years ago. Will Bafana Bafana carry their winning momentum into the tournament in Morocco? Only time will tell.