Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos says 2024 will go down as the best and they want to finish the year with great results on Tuesday in their last game of the AFCON qualifiers.

Hugo Broos’ Bafana Bafana began 2024 with AFCON in Ivory Coast from January to February. Bafana managed to at least win the bronze medals as they finished in third place after beating DR Congo on penalties. 

Meanwhile, Bafana Bafana is in position number two in Group C of the CAF/FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers with seven points alongside the log leaders, Rwanda, and third-place side Benin. Bafana’s last WC game was in June where they beat their neighbours Zimbabwe 3-1 at Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein. 

On Friday this week, Bafana Bafana participated in the AFCON match qualifier against Uganda away from home. Fortunately, Broos’ side won 2-0 with Thapelo Morena and Patrick Maswanganyi’s goals. Broos revealed after their 2-0 victory against Uganda that 2024 was good for Bafana Bafana as they tried to win some games as they wished to win them. 

“I think we tried to win as many games as we hope to win [in 2024],” Broos said. 

“But it’s very important I think that like today [Friday] we can keep a clean sheet. But on the clean sheet, we have reached at least one point [difference], so we did it well. 

“For the rest to try and win all the games this year, we have to play not to lose; we always play to win. It’s very important for South Africans again that we win this group. We have qualified but we have to top the group, and that’s why today we tried to win the game.” 

The Belgian tactician continued. “So, this is what they called a ‘cherry on the top.’ Ok, we have qualified and it’s good we didn’t lose the game today and don’t want to lose next Tuesday because we want to win every game. We fought for it today because it was not easy, it was a tough opponent and we’ll fight again next Tuesday to try to have three points.” 

The former Cameroon national coach also revealed that he is happy for their victory on Friday but they didn’t start the game very well. 

“I’m very happy that we won the game, it was a tough game and we saw the first half we played the game too slow,” he said.

“The second half of the game was different from what was played in the first half. We came here to win, we came here to be first in the group and we are first in the group. 

 “But we’ll try again on Tuesday to win the game against South Sudan to stay at first of the group and to have 14 points, that’s wonderful.” 

This match on Tuesday and South Sudan at DHL Stadium will be the last game for Bafana Bafana in 2024 and also in the AFCON Qualifiers.