South Africa’s coach, Hugo Broos, has expressed confidence in his team’s ability to overcome Nigeria in the upcoming African Cup of Nations (AFCON) semi-final.
Broos, who led Cameroon to an AFCON title in 2017, is optimistic about Bafana Bafana’s chances, acknowledging the strength of the Nigerian team but emphasizing that it’s a different scenario with different players and circumstances.
During a press conference on Tuesday, Broos acknowledged the challenge posed by Nigeria and the quality of their players, many of whom play in Europe.
He noted that while previous encounters have seen varying results, the current AFCON presents a different dynamic, and he believes anything is possible.
Bafana Bafana will be without Thapelo Maseko in the semi-final due to injury. Broos confirmed Maseko’s third-degree tear (hamstring) and stated that the player would remain with the team until the end of the tournament.
Due to time constraints, the team will not replace Maseko and will continue the tournament with the existing squad.
The coach expressed his satisfaction with goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, the man of the match in the quarter-final against Cape Verde.
Williams made crucial saves during the penalty shoot-out, helping Bafana Bafana secure a spot in the semi-finals.
Williams, in turn, emphasized that the achievement was a collective effort, praising the team’s hard work and commitment.
