CAN 2024: Hugo Broos on a mission for South African football

South Africa faces Cape Verde for a place in the CAN 2024 semi-finals on February 3 at the Charles Konan Banny stadium in Yamoussoukro. A meeting which is an opportunity to reconnect with a glorious past for Bafana Bafana, as much as to offer an exhibition platform to Hugo Broos players. The Belgian coach also sees the CAN as a springboard for his men.

South African coach Hugo Broos attends a press conference at the Laurent Pokou stadium in San-Pedro on January 29, 2024 on the eve of the round of 16 of the 2024 African Cup of Nations (CAN) between Morocco and South Africa. AFP - SIA KAMBOU

By: Yohann Le Coz Follow

Advertisement

Read more

Hugo Broos has already assured him, after this

CAN

, he will retire. Well no, to be more precise, the technician will leave the sidelines “

after South Africa

 ” – his contract runs until 2026. Precision deserves to exist, because the Belgian does not appear to be on a mission for a fight of personal honor, after having already won the CAN in 2017 with

Cameroon

. But rather for South Africa, which he wants to see win and grow through this prestigious continental tournament.

Read alsoCAN 2024: The calendar and all the results

It's been 18 years since Bafana Bafana last reached the final four. If Broos is not entirely up to date on the history, " 

it's been a long time since South Africa played a semi or a final

", he simply said at a press conference, he is no less aware of the stakes of such exposure for his players. “

We want to try to do as well as the guys in 1996

(South Africa's only victory at CAN, Editor's note),” assured the Belgian. First to fill the trophy cabinet, then to help the football of the country he represents, for the duration of a contract.

“

I have always said that teams with players who play in Europe have an advantage

,” he recalled.

They play big competitions, in Spain, in England… it’s something different from the South African championship

[...].

This is important because now when we return we will increase the interest in South African players

.”

Maybe you think his words are harsh? However, Broos conducted a full-scale experiment to verify his statements: “

Before the CAN, when I asked someone in Belgium to give me five South African players, no one was capable of doing so. While five Senegalese players, yes. It would be a very good thing if we had more players in Europe

.”

“

It will be as hard as against Morocco

”

From there to denigrate the Premier Soccer League? It’s not like, “

My players are playing at a high level in South Africa. We play differently too, the local championship is very technical, not very physical

.” One last point on which Broos claims to have worked a lot. And besides, in his eyes, his team has progressed a lot in the athletic dimension. An extra provided by the Broos touch, helped by the fertile ground he found with Bafana Bafana: “

My players are so motivated, with the desire to show that they play at a high level in South Africa

”. As a reminder, in its list of 23 selected published at the end of December, only three of its players did not play in the national championship.

Cape Verde, Bafana Bafana's opponent in the upcoming quarter-final, has only seven players in its ranks in a European top division, only one among the "Big Five". Enough to see them as less worrying than the Atlas Lions? Not in the eyes of the coach: “

We do not underestimate the Cape Verdeans. They don't have great players who play in big European clubs, but from what I have seen, they have qualities on the pitch, the players are very disciplined

. [...]

We are confident, but we know it will be hard. It will be as hard as against Morocco

.”

Very little from Europe, a lot from Africa and two great teams will take to the field, Saturday February 3, at the Charles Konan Banny stadium in Yamoussoukro. A match which will be followed live on the RFI website and on the Africa antenna.

Newsletter

Receive all the international news directly in your inbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

Share :

Continue reading on the same themes:

• Soccer

• CAN 2024

• South Africa

• Green cap