By Dylan Bettencourt
- Bafana Bafana arrive home to few fans after losing to Cameroon in Afcon last sixteen match.
- Coach Hugo Broos apologised and said the team must fix mistakes before 2026 World Cup.
A year ago, Hugo Broos and Bafana Bafana came home as heroes after winning bronze at Afcon.
This time, there was no big welcome. The team arrived quietly at OR Tambo International Airport on Wednesday morning after being knocked out by Cameroon in the last sixteen.
Only a handful of fans were there to greet the players. Even a warm hug from Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie could not lift Broos’ mood.
“I can only say sorry for the disappointment,” Broos said. “We wanted to go further. We wanted to reach the semi finals again, but it didn’t happen.”
The coach admitted the team fell short and said it is time to look at what went wrong.
“With the World Cup coming, we must reflect,” he said. “I will look at my mistakes and the players must do the same.”
Broos has faced criticism over how the team prepared for Afcon. Before the tournament, Bafana played friendly matches against Zambia and a weak Ghana side.
Broos also pointed to a bigger problem facing South African football.
“There is a big gap between the PSL and Afcon level,” he said. “Other teams have players in Europe. We don’t, and that makes things harder.”
He defended his choices and brushed off criticism on social media.
“They talk a lot when we lose,” he said. “I have been here four years. I won’t listen to that now.”
Bafana’s focus now shifts to the 2026 World Cup. They are expected to face Mexico, South Korea and possibly Denmark.
The aim, Broos said, is simple. Get out of the group and restore pride.
Pictured above: Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos.
Image source: File
