Hugo Broos
South Africa’s head coach, Hugo Broos, expressed his belief that his team outperformed Nigeria in Wednesday’s semi-finals encounter, despite their 2-4 loss on penalty kicks.
The Bafana Bafana rallied from a goal down to push the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) game into extra time.
Reflecting on their defeat in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday, Broos emphasized that his side’s performance warranted victory.
He remarked, “Football can be cruel at times. Considering the display of my team today (Wednesday) and then the penalty shootout, losing in such a manner and missing out on the finals is hard to accept.”
Broos expressed his frustration, stating, “It’s difficult to accept because we delivered an excellent performance today.
I believe we were the superior team in the first half, creating the best opportunities while Nigeria struggled to create any chances.
In the second half, they managed to capitalize on a few opportunities, but we made tactical adjustments and fought back.”
He maintained that his team generated more scoring opportunities, emphasizing that had they converted, they would have secured a spot in the final instead of Nigeria.
However, the Belgian praised his team for their commendable performance throughout the tournament, acknowledging it as a great achievement.
“It’s a significant letdown for all of us, but I firmly believe we showcased our abilities not only today but consistently 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 strong performances,” he expressed.
South Africa is set to compete against DR Congo in the third-place playoff on Saturday.
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