AFCON friendly: Broos says South Africa played cautiously against Ghana
South Africa head coach Hugo Broos has admitted he was not fully satisfied with his side’s performance despite their 1–0 victory over Ghana’s Black Galaxies in Tuesday’s pre-AFCON friendly.
The match was decided by Sipho Mbule’s 57th-minute strike, the only shot on target for Bafana Bafana, which slipped past Ghana goalkeeper Lawrence Osei.
Broos’ Assessment
On performance:
“Let’s say that I’m not happy with the result but we won the game… We didn’t really play a very good game and there was not so much momentum in the team that we are used to. The passing was not good so there is a little bit of work to be on the highest level for next week.”
On cautious approach:
“Maybe it’s something that was placed in the head of the players that next week AFCON starts and players are afraid to be injured… I expected a little bit more from my team today, a better game, but that can happen.”
Context
- South Africa: Preparing for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, where they are drawn in Group B with Egypt, Angola, and Zimbabwe.
- Ghana: Fielded a domestic-based squad as the match fell outside the FIFA window, using the fixture to prepare for CHAN qualifiers.
- Tournament Dates: December 21, 2025 – January 18, 2026.
Significance
- For South Africa: The win provides confidence but also highlights areas needing improvement before their Group B opener vs Angola on December 22.
- For Ghana: Despite defeat, the match offered valuable exposure for home-based players against continental opposition.
This friendly underscored the balance between protecting players ahead of AFCON and maintaining competitive sharpness.
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