Bafana Bafana To Show ‘More Quality’ Pre-World Cup

Image source: Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos (Via SA People)

Published by: Dimphotsentle Pule

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos aims to build on their Africa Cup of Nations success for upcoming World Cup qualifiers. Ahead of a friendly against Andorra, Broos emphasizes the importance of maintaining their ranking.

He asserts that South African players in Europe must show “more quality” to be considered for the national team. This emphasizes the importance of excellence and skill in representing the team, challenging overseas-based players to prove their abilities.

For South African players abroad, the message is clear: demonstrate talent to earn a national team spot. Selection now relies on performance rather than just location, offering players a chance to shine and contribute to the team’s goals.

Broos’ squad is set to confront Andorra in Thursday’s FIFA Series international friendly pilot project. Seven Mamelodi Sundowns players and Siyanda Xulu from SuperSport United arrived at camp as scheduled on Tuesday evening.

According to FIFA, this trial series enables nations to face unfamiliar opponents, providing smaller countries with a chance to compete against stronger teams. Andorra ranks 164th globally, significantly lower than Bafana Bafana, who achieved their highest ranking in more than ten years after finishing third in the Africa Cup of Nations. That Afcon bronze medal also sees them back in the top 10 on the African continent.

Despite the significant difference in rankings between the two teams, Broos expects his team to deliver a professional performance as they aim to improve their position in the rankings.

“It’s important that we go on from what we achieve in the Afcon, it’s not enough to be in third place and become 10th in the CAF rankings for two to three months only and then we are back in number 13,” Broos said in a press conference on Tuesday afternoon.

“Therefore, we have to go on now and try to get good results and try to get better places in the rankings, and we can only do it with results. Friendly games are becoming very important, so we will try to get good results in those two so we can win points and get a better position in the CAF ranking.”

As Broos plans ahead, he encourages younger players to demonstrate their abilities, particularly with several players reaching their mid-30s.

“We have some new players, younger players with us. I hope that maybe they can show me that I can count on them for the next months, for the qualifiers for the World Cup and Afcon, and that maybe little by little, we can put those players in the team,” he said, as reported by IOL Sport on Tuesday.

“That’s what we want to do in the next few months, besides to qualify for Afcon and World Cup.”

Bafana’s fixture against Andorra will be played at the 19 May 1956 Stadium in Annaba, and against hosts Algeria at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers next Tuesday.

About The Author