Hugo Broos, the head coach of Bafana Bafana, expressed his disappointment over the missed opportunities that led to their penalty shootout defeat against Nigeria in the Africa Nations Cup semifinals.
Despite the loss, Broos also expressed his pride in his team’s performance, as they went toe-to-toe with the Super Eagles in a thrilling match at the Stade la Paix de Bouake in the Ivory Coast.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Nigeria Advances To The Final Of The Africa Cup Of Nations
Broos acknowledged the harsh reality of football, stating, “Football can be hard.” He highlighted his team’s exceptional performance throughout the game, especially in the first half, where they dominated possession and created numerous scoring chances. In contrast, Nigeria struggled to create any clear-cut opportunities.
Although Nigeria managed to score in the second half, Bafana Bafana made tactical adjustments and equalised, showing their resilience and determination.
The match seemed destined for extra time until a missed opportunity in stoppage time denied them a victory. Broos acknowledged that such moments are part of football and can lead to disappointment.
Despite the loss, Broos emphasised his pride in his players’ overall performance throughout the tournament. He highlighted their victory against Cape Verde in the quarterfinals, where they displayed character and won on penalties. Broos also praised their remarkable showing against Nigeria, even though they ultimately fell short.
Reflecting on the African Cup of Nations, Broos expressed his satisfaction with the team’s progress and the recognition they have gained.
He believes that South Africa is now recognised as a formidable team on the international stage.
“I am very proud, very proud of the players, the way we have performed, not only today. We played a bad game against Cape Verde and won on penalties (in the quarterfinals) and today we played a very good game and lost on penalties.
“That is also football, but again … we have to think about the way we played at this AFCON. I know everyone knows South Africa now as a good team,” he said.
