South Africa’s head coach, Hugo Broos
South Africa’s head coach, Hugo Broos, acknowledged his team’s strong performance against Nigeria in Wednesday’s semi-final clash, which they lost 2-4 on penalties.
Despite coming from behind to draw the match and force extra time in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the Bafana Bafana squad missed two penalties while the Super Eagles converted all four of theirs.
Broos reacted to their defeat by asserting that his team played significantly better and believed they deserved to win the game and advance to the finals.
“Football can be cruel at times.
When you consider the performance of my team and then the outcome of penalty kicks, it’s tough to swallow being knocked out of the finals. Today, we played exceptionally well.
I believe we were the superior team in the first half, creating the best chances, while Nigeria struggled to make an impact.
Although they had a few opportunities in the second half that led to a goal, we made tactical adjustments and fought back,” Broos reflected.
He emphasized that his team had created more scoring opportunities, expressing confidence that had they capitalized on them, they would have secured a spot in the final instead of Nigeria.
Broos also commended his team for their consistent performance throughout the tournament.
“It’s a significant letdown for everyone, but we firmly believe we delivered an excellent performance, not only today but throughout the competition. I’m immensely proud of my players.
While the disappointment lies in missing out on the final, our pride stems from our commendable display,” he remarked.
South Africa will now contend against DR Congo in the third-place playoff on Saturday.
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