Broos demands improvement despite Ghana win
Sipho Mbule’s superb 58th-minute strike proved decisive as Bafana Bafana edged Ghana’s CHAN side 1–0 at Dobsonville Stadium in their final warm-up before the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
While the result provided a morale boost, head coach Hugo Broos was candid in his assessment, admitting the performance fell short of expectations.
“Let’s say I’m happy with the result, but we can play much better,” Broos told SABC Sport. “We didn’t play very well. There wasn’t the movement we are used to, and our passing was not good.”
The Belgian suggested the looming AFCON challenge may have played on players’ minds. “Maybe the players were thinking that AFCON starts next week and were a bit afraid to get injured. We expected more, but this can happen. Two years ago we were also poor against Lesotho before AFCON, so that gives us hope.”
Broos remains confident his squad will be ready when it matters. “I’m sure the boys will be ready against Angola,” he said.
South Africa open their Group B campaign on Monday against Angola, with Egypt and Zimbabwe also lying in wait.
Fans divided after Ghana outing
Despite the victory, Bafana’s display sparked mixed reactions among supporters, with praise for some individuals and sharp criticism for others.
Some fans highlighted Aubrey Modiba’s consistency, with one supporter calling him “the best left-back we’ve had in a long time,” while others felt midfield combinations and attacking balance remain unresolved.
There was debate around Relebohile Mofokeng’s influence, with critics branding him overrated, while others suggested a positional shift to a No.10 role. Oswin Appollis and Mohau Nkota were widely tipped as a promising partnership, while questions were raised about Nkosinathi Sibisi’s continued selection.
Up front, scepticism surrounded Evidence Makgopa and Lyle Foster, with some fans doubting their goal output at AFCON, while others urged calm, reminding critics that the match was a friendly played days before a major tournament.
Overall assessment: work in progress, but belief remains
Bafana Bafana leave for AFCON with a win in hand but clear areas needing refinement — sharper movement, cleaner passing and greater attacking cohesion.
Broos’ message is one of realism rather than alarm. The squad has shown resilience in past tournaments, and while expectations are higher after recent progress, South Africa know performances must rise quickly in a demanding Group B.
The real judgment begins on Monday.