Broos Equates Historic Bafana World Cup Run To 2017 AFCON Glory With Cameroon
Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos believes guiding South Africa to the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup for the first time ranks in the same tier of success as winning the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with Cameroon.
Despite playing in the 1986 World Cup and finishing fourth with Belgium in Mexico, Broos was a tournament novice in the dugout, having never managed a team on global football’s grandest stage before this campaign.
At times, tactical shortcomings overshadowed Bafana Bafana’s historic run, heavily apparent during their 2-0 defeat to Mexico in the tournament opener.
South Africa adopted an overly defensive posture, and had Mexico been more clinical, the scoreline could have been far worse.
Against Canada in the Round of 32 loss on Sunday, those structural errors reemerged. Bafana Bafana’s insistence on playing out from the back proved to be there, though the co-hosts did not capitalize on the predictable approach.
Canada deliberately declined to press South Africa’s backline high up the pitch, knowing goalkeeper Ronwen Williams would eventually be forced to launch long balls for second-phase possession.
Furthermore, Canada successfully neutralized Thapelo Maseko, who had been pivotal in the group-stage matches against the Czech Republic and South Korea—scoring the match-winner against the latter.
The North Americans consistently double-teamed the Mamelodi Sundowns attacker. Whenever Maseko cut inside at the Los Angeles venue, he found no space to exploit, a dilemma worsened by Broos’ decision to haul off Relebohile Mofokeng at half-time.
Despite the tactical critique, Broos had consistently maintained that reaching the Round of 16 would require a footballing miracle, a sentiment he reiterated ahead of the match.
“I can rank this success alongside the AFCON with Cameroon,” said Broos, who also guided Bafana Bafana to a bronze medal at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations.
“It is unbelievable what this team achieved during this World Cup. I was a little bit angry when we were criticised after the game against Mexico. What did people expect—that we would come here in the opening game and beat Mexico?
“I know my team, I know these players, and I know what we need if we want to achieve more at this level. What we did here over the last three to four weeks, I rank at the same level as winning the AFCON with Cameroon.”
Broos, who confirmed he is stepping down from his role, concludes an impressive tenure in charge of the South African national team. Across 60 matches at the helm, the Belgian tactician recorded 29 wins, 19 draws, and 12 defeats.
