AFCON: “South Africa played cautiously against Ghana to avoid injury” – Broos

Head coach of South Africa Hugo Broos has expressed dissatisfaction despite managing a 1-0 victory against Ghana’s domestic-based national team in a pre-Africa Cup of Nations friendly on Tuesday.

Bafana Bafana’s only shot on target by Orlando Pirates midfielder Sipho Mbule ended behind Ghana goalkeeper Lawrence Osei for the only goal of the game in the 57thminute at the Dobsonville Stadium.

The victory is a source of confidence for the 1996 champions ahead of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations group B opener against Angola on Monday, December 22 but head coach Hugo Broos has other thoughts about the game.

“Let’s say that I’m not happy with the result but we won the game but I think we can play much better than today. 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,” Hugo Broos said after the game.

The Belgian trainer has insisted that his players played cautiously in order to avoid injuries ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations.

“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 or whatever but again I expected a little bit more from my team today, a better game but that can happen.

South Africa are paired in Group B alongside neighbours Zimbabwe, record holders Egypt and Angola for the tournament that is fixed between December 21 and January 18.