Cameroon coach David Pagou has labelled Bafana Bafana “strong and stubborn opponents” but feels Hugo Broos’ side will face added expectations when the two sides meet in a 2025 AFCON Round of 16 match.
The Inomitable Lions and South Africa clash at Al Medina Stadium in Rabat on Sunday with a quarter-final spot at stake. Both teams finished as runners-up in their respective groups to reach the Last-16.
Bafana are chasing the first AFCON title since 1996 while Cameroon are bidding to be crowned African champions for the sixth time. That makes Sunday’s match a potential stormy affair between teams that have high continental ambitions.
The Cameroon match could evoke emotions in Broos who guided the Indomitable Lions to the 2017 AFCON title. The Belgian claimed continental glory with a team that had nine players withdrawing from the squad after opting to be with their clubs.
That triumph thrust Broos’ name into the limelight in Africa despite having previously worked in Algeria as JS Kabylie and NA Hussein Dey coach.
PAGOU ON WHY THE PRESSURE IS ON BAFANA THAN CAMEROON
The Indomitable Lions coach believes Broos’ side is more compatible as a unit due to most of their players being drawn from the Betway Premiership. But he says more expectations are on Bafana going into Sunday’s game.
“We are satisfied because we qualified. During the last Africa Cup of Nations, South Africa had a very good run. They will be under pressure because we are a team in the making. It will be a very complicated match,” said Pagou.
“We know South Africa are strong and stubborn opponents. They have a competitive domestic league and players who know each other very well, so the match will be complicated.
“We will play to our strengths and try to make things difficult for them. The goal is to show up strongly and deliver a good performance.”
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