Broos embraces Bafana’s new AFCON status as contenders

HUGO BROOS has admitted that Bafana Bafana will have a target on their back at the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations, thanks to their impressive showing at the previous edition of the biennial continental showpiece.

South Africa’s senior national team defied the odds by finishing in third place in the Ivory Coast two years ago and will now go to Morocco next month among the favourites to win the title. The Belgian takes his squad into their final preparations with a friendly international against Zambia in Gqeberha at the weekend, intent on sending a message to their opponents.

“I want to win on Saturday. For me this is not a friendly,” Broos told media, at the beginning of their camp this week.

“For us it will be a little different to start the next AFCON. We are South Africa now.

"It was different last time when we were a team of South Africa. But now, with the performances and the results we had, the opponents will prepare for us a little differently than two years ago.”

That much is true, Bafana having reclaimed their standing as one of the continent’s football giants by bringing home bronze medals from the tournament. Add to that their qualification for next year’s Fifa World Cup and there is every reason for Broos’ men to be considered contenders for the title. And the silver-haired Belgian believes they are serious challengers.

Bafana are in a competitive group with record champions Egypt, tough and fast-improving Angola, as well as neighbours Zimbabwe. But while he acknowledges it will not be a cakewalk, the septuagenarian is confident South Africa will at least make the knockout stages.

“Worst would be if after the group stage we can come back – that will be very bad. We have to avoid it and I am confident.

"I know this group. The confidence is there; the mentality is there.

"We can take the next step and get the same results as the last ones, and even better. The progression we made in the last two years has been enormous and it will help us at the World Cup.”

It is for that reason that Broos is not seeing the clash against Chipolopolo as an experimental exercise, the fact that he has brought in newbies Masindi Nemtajela and Keletso Makgalwa notwithstanding.

“Most important on Saturday is to play a good game – like we did in our previous games. We played a friendly a long time ago because our matches were qualifiers. That’s why I said this is not a friendly game.

"I want to see a team with a good mentality; I want to win the game. They must go for every ball, every metre. I don’t think you take a friendly game to improve something but rather a game to confirm how good we are; what a good team we are.”

Of course, Chipolopolo will have a lot to say about that – the Zambians also using the match to fine-tune themselves for the AFCON where, like Bafana, they will be looking for their second continental title.

When the tournament kicks off in Morocco late in December, it is Bafana many countries will be looking to beat – confirmation of the huge strides South Africa’s senior national team has made under Hugo Broos’ guidance.