By Charles Maduka
South Africa head coach Hugo Broos has dismissed claims that his team has declined following their exit from the Africa Cup of Nations, saying his attention is now firmly on preparations for the World Cup.
Bafana Bafana were knocked out in the round of 16 after a 2–1 defeat to Cameroon in Rabat, ending their campaign earlier than expected. The result came two years after South Africa finished third at the previous AFCON, raising questions about the team’s progress.
Broos insisted his side had not gone backwards, explaining that while some performances at the tournament were below expectations, the team showed enough quality against Cameroon. He added that luck did not favour South Africa in the crucial match.
South Africa finished second in their group behind Egypt, recording narrow wins against Angola and Zimbabwe and losing to the Pharaohs. Broos said football often depends on fine margins and reminded critics that luck played a role in their success at the last tournament.
With the AFCON now over, Broos said the team would carry out a detailed assessment as they prepare for the World Cup, their first appearance since 2010. South Africa will play friendly matches in March as part of their build-up, with the coach confident his team will be ready for the global tournament.
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