-
Bafana Bafana players during a training session.
Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos believes his team will be able to carry their winning momentum into next month’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in Morocco. Broos says his team is almost ready for the continental football showpiece in north Africa scheduled to run from December 21st to January 18.
A lot is expected from South Africa ahead of the tournament after they managed to win a bronze medal in Ivory Coast two years ago.
Despite winning 3-1 against Zambia in Gqeberha, coach Hugo Broos maintains this was not Bafana Bafana’s best performance. Broos says the tempo was just too low in the first half.
But he says the positive he takes away from this match is that his team made use of the scoring opportunities that came their way.
“I’m happy again with the victory, I’m happy again that we could do what we wanted to do before the game, just giving play time to the other players, that’s why we changed four players during half-time and second half. I think we can be proud of the past year again, and the most important thing is going to the AFCON next month,” says Broos.
The match also marked a big milestone for influential Bafana Bafana midfielder Teboho Mokoena. This marked Mokoena’s 50th game in the senior national team.
Mokoena made his Bafana Bafana debut back in 2017 and has never looked back. His big contribution was hailed by the South African Football Association’s vice president Linda Zwane.
“What an incredible player and his consistency, I think everybody can see that he’s a very committed patriot of South Africa, and I think South Africans are happy and we are happy on his behalf, and I think going forward we are wishing him all the best. His future, he must remain humble, and of course, under pressure, he must always be strong and be strong for this country,” says Zwane.
The 28-year-old Mokoena is expected to play an important role for Bafana Bafana in next month’s AFCON tournament, as well as in next year’s FIFA World Cup in the Americas.
“Thanks to coach Hugo because I started being a regular under him, and to coach Stuart who gave me my first debut, and I’m very grateful. Thank you for the support and thank you to everyone who sent me messages before the game and during the week and I appreciate it. And I also want to give credit to Percy Tau because my first cap he was around and he was the one who told me my time is going to come unfortunately, he’s not here today, but I have to give him his flowers for always being there for me and thank you very much,” says Mokoena.
Broos has also congratulated Mokoena on his big milestone, as he remains one of his influential players in the squad.
