AFCON: South Africa Coach Finds Defeat to Nigeria Hard to Swallow -

South Africa’s head coach, Hugo Broos, expressed his belief that his team performed better in Wednesday’s semi-final clash against Nigeria, despite losing 2-4 on penalty kicks in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) game.

The Bafana Bafana fought back from a goal down to force the game into extra time.

Broos asserted that his team’s performance warranted a victory.

“Football can be cruel sometimes. When you analyze my team’s performance today (Wednesday) and then there were the penalty kicks. Losing the penalty shootout and missing out on the finals is difficult to accept,” Broos lamented. “We played a very good game today. I believe we were the superior team in the first half, creating the best chances, while Nigeria didn’t have any clear opportunities.”

“In the second half, they had a few chances which led to a goal, and we made tactical adjustments to equalize,” he added.

Despite the disappointment, Broos commended his team for their overall performance throughout the tournament. “It’s a significant disappointment for everyone, considering we played well not just today but throughout the tournament. I am proud of my players. The sorrow lies in missing out on the final, but the pride stems from our strong performances,” he remarked.

South Africa is now set to face DR Congo in the third-place playoff on Saturday.