South Africa coach Hugo Broos Picture Credits: Timeless News Archive
By Moyahabo Mabeba
Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos says there is no need for additional friendly matches ahead of the African Nations Cup to be held in Morocco from December 21 to January 16.
South Africa will meet Angola, Egypt, and Zambia in Group B, with Broos expected to confirm his 23-man squad in the first week of December ahead of their pre-tournament camp in Tshwane.
Broos seems pleased with his team’s impressive form following a comprehensive 3-1 victory over Zambia in Gqeberha.
Broos is adamant that there is no need for additional friendly games with only a few days left ahead of the continental showpiece in the northwestern African nation.
“I don’t think there is any need for more friendly matches to be played before we depart to Morocco for AFCON.We have played enough against African teams so we don’t have to play against another African team as if we don’t know African football.
“We’ve played, over the last four years, nearly only against African teams, so we don’t have to play another two or three games before we go to AFCON, we don’t need that,” Broos said.
He went on to say, “It will be a little bit different next year when we prepare for the World Cup – that is something else, and the preparations will be different as well.
“But now we just try to have a good preparation and [makes sure] that the team is really at 100 percent when they start, and that we don’t start like we started the last AFCON with a defeat.”
Broos highlighted that he already has his mind wired on their AFCON opener against Angola in Marrakesh.
“I want to win that first game because that gives you a lot of advantage in a tournament, certainly in a group phase, when you win your first game,” he added.
“That was something we didn’t do in 2024, and then we had to win the second game and then there was still a question mark for the third game, so we will try to avoid that by already winning our first game against Angola.”
Morocco will kick off their campaign on December 21, with the hosts taking on Comoros in the opening game in Rabat.
There will be six groups – each consisting of four teams. The AFCON was expanded from 16 teams to 24 in 2019 in order to allow more teams to qualify and has retained its format since.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the round of 16 along with the four best ranked third-placed teams.
The knockout rounds thereafter will be played over single legs, with ties decided via extra time and then penalties if they finish level.
