Broos refuses to blink: Why focusing on Salah and Marmoush is a ‘mistake’

As Bafana Bafana prepare to step into the furnace of the Grand Stade D’Agadir, head coach Hugo Broos is preaching a philosophy of collective resistance for the AFCON Group B tie against Egypt.

Facing an Egyptian side spearheaded by two of the world’s most prolific attackers, the Belgian tactician has warned that obsessing over individual stars is a “trap” South Africa must avoid.

The Boxing Day showdown carries immense weight. Coming off a resilient 2-1 victory over Angola, Bafana Bafana are on the verge of knockout qualification. Standing in their way, however, is a seven-time champion side buoyed by a comeback win over Zimbabwe—a match where Premier League stars Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush both found the back of the net.

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Beyond the Big Names

While the global media lens is fixed on the Manchester City and Liverpool stars, Broos was quick to remind his squad that the Egyptian threat is multifaceted.

“It would be a big mistake to focus on one individual of the Egyptian team,” Broos told reporters. “We all know how good Salah is; we all know how good Marmoush is—but we also know how good Trezeguet is. It is such a balanced, high-quality team.”

For Broos, the “Broos Revolution” has always been built on structural integrity rather than man-marking. He believes that if South Africa remains tactically disciplined as a unit, the individual brilliance of the Pharaohs can be neutralized.

The “Agadir” Litmus Test At AFCON

The choice of venue, the Ardrar Stadium, offers a high-pressure stage for this Group B summit. With kick-off set for 17:00, the conditions will be as intense as the rivalry.

“If we focus on one player, we are not prepared to beat the team,” Broos explained. “We don’t want to come out of the game saying ‘Salah or Marmoush didn’t play well.’ For us, the only focus is beating the collective that is Egypt.”

A win today would not only secure progression but would serve as the ultimate validation of Broos’ three-year rebuilding project. Having already claimed the scalp of Morocco during the previous AFCON, a victory over Egypt would firmly establish this Bafana Bafana side as the new heavyweights of the continent.