Extra Time: Bafana Bafana are heading to the next Africa Cup of Nations — but don’t celebrate them just yet, writes Michael Madyira.
Congratulations to coach Hugo Broos and his men. Well done; it’s all that South Africa wanted from you.
Bafana fans might have been subjected to a nerve-racking experience from last Friday until Tuesday evening but it doesn’t matter anymore.
What’s important is that the team will be in the Ivory Coast.
Initially, the Belgian had asked to be “killed” had Bafana failed to book a ticket to the Afcon knockouts.
Last Friday, when they were restricted to a 2-2 draw by Liberia at Orlando Stadium, his head was on the block, ready for chopping.
The former Cameroon boss witnessed his team blow away a 2-0 lead.
Broos was angry that his players were so flat upfront.
It was the same old story of his forwards missing a glut of chances, as he mentioned just before facing Liberia in the return fixture in Monrovia.
After almost every match since his first game in charge of Bafana against Uganda on 10 June 2021, Broos has complained about Bafana not being potent in front of goal.
The same problems still manifest themselves and the coach has had difficulty pointing out areas where he can say they have improved.
Even the way they ground out a 2-1 victory in Monrovia on Tuesday.
But this was not done out of excellence and was not the kind of performance characteristic of a team seeking consistency.
Bafana are far from the outfit Broos dreams of.
Can they match the Afcon-winning Class of 1996, or at least the 1998 finalists?
As it stands, it sounds like a big ask, and they look very far from those successful sides.
Pictured above: Bafana coach Hugo Broos
Image source: Bafana Bafana
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