Broos describes historic Bafana AFCON win as ‘worst game of the tournament’

Hugo Broos has poured cold water on the celebratory flames engulfing South Africa after Bafana Bafana’s historic AFCON win, describing the quarter-final display as their “worst game of the tournament.”

Captain Ronwen Williams performed a heroic feat, saving four penalties in a dramatic shootout against Cape Verde on Saturday night at the Stade Charles Konan Stadium in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast.

This secured a 2-1 victory for Bafana Bafana and propelled them to their first AFCON semi-final appearance in 24 years.

However, outspoken Bafana coach Hugo Broos was not convinced with his troops’ performance as the game ended 0-0 after extra time as Cape Verde dominated the game.

While celebrating the achievement and praising the players’ fighting spirit, Broos, a previous winner of the continental championship, said: “Our match was not so good.”

BROOS HAPPY But Points to Flaws After Bafana’s ‘Scrappy’ Victory

“I think we played the worst game of the tournament of all our games. We played better against Mali, we played better against Namibia, Tunisia, also Morocco. Against Cape Verde, this was not the team we saw in the previous week, and I think for some players, it’s a very new experience, and maybe the pressure and the nerves played a role in that game.

“For Cape Verde, it was maybe different; they had nothing to lose. Even I think they are very sad now, but for us, there was more to lose. And that played in the heads of the players, and therefore, we didn’t play like we used to do.

“But, I said it already. It’s not the way you win [that matters]; it’s you win, and we won today with penalties. So we are very happy.”

In the semi-finals, Broos and his men will take on Nigeria at Stade de la Paix in Bouaké on Wednesday. In the other semis clash, hosts Cote d’Ivoire meet the Democratic Republic of Congo in Abidjan.

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