Evidence Makgopa’s qualities that makes him Bafana’s main striker
Former Bafana Bafana striker Katlego Mashego has revealed Evidence Makgopa’s qualities that make him the national team’s main striker.
Makgopa has been leading the attacking line for South Africa at the ongoing 2023 AFCON finals in Ivory Coast. In the group stages, he failed to make an impression as he fired blanks in all three matches.
This led to SA football fans criticising and questioning whether Makgopa deserved a Bafana call-up to the continental’s biggest football competition.
In Bafana’s last match against Morocco in the Round of 16, the Orlando Pirates goal-poacher proved his doubters wrong. He opened his scoring account, SA won the match 2-0 with Teboho Mokoena scoring the second goal.
After the match, coach Hugo Broos backed Makgopa to continue impressing saying he has always believed in the 23-year-old striker.
KATLEGO MASHEGO ON EVIDENCE MAKGOPA’S QUALITIES
Mashego says Makgopa is a great team player who brings everyone to the game and has goals in him.
“Going forward, Evidence Makgopa plays a brilliant game. He can hold up the ball, and he can bring his teammates into play,” Mashego told FARPost.
“It’s just that sometimes as a striker you get less chances, and the chances that you get you probably not ready or your confidence is a bit low.
“But Evidence is the right player for that stage, I think he’s the right player for that kind of international football. He deserves to be leading the Bafana attacking line.
“He’s tall, he’s fast and we shouldn’t forget he can also score goals. We have seen that before.”
Makgopa will be aiming to continue from where he left off against the Atlas Lions. This time around, the 1996 African champions will face tricky Cape Verde who have impressed in the tournament.
The fourth quarter-final encounter will be played on Saturday, 3 February at Charles Konan Banny Stadium in Yamoussoukro. Kickoff is at 10pm [SA time].
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