Bafana stick to Broos’ recipe after first half slump

South Africa coach Hugo Broos feels a weight has been lifted off his side’s ambitions at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco after they got off to a winning start with a 2-1 triumph over Angola in Marrakech on Monday.

It was the first time in 21 years that Bafana Bafana began the tournament with three points and puts them on course for a place in the knockout stage.

“As I said before the game, losing your first match puts you in difficulty,” Broos said after the match.

“We tried to avoid that and we started the match very well. We played well, we scored, and then, for reasons I don’t understand, suddenly we fell asleep.”

Oswin Appollis opened the scoring in the 21st minute, but only a series of saves from captain Ronwen Williams kept South Africa in the lead before Show’s clever touch from a free kick levelled matters.

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“Angola came into the game and were dangerous with their combinations, and we suffered. There was no aggression anymore, no passion in the team, and we played very slowly. You could feel there would be a goal for the opponent, and that happened,” said the coach, who replaced winger Mohau Nkota with Tshepang Moremi at the start of the second half.

“We needed to find our usual game and we put some things right at halftime. Moremi played well, was quick and a threat to the Angolan defence. That changed a lot.

“We were also more aggressive and put more pressure on the opponent. We scored through Moremi – OK, it was offside – and then there was the shot from (Mbekezeli) Mbokazi that hit the crossbar.

“But a fantastic goal from Lyle made us very happy with the victory. Now we can look ahead to the game against Egypt on Friday in very different circumstances than if we had lost today.”

Foster’s powerful shot 11 minutes from time secured all three points.

“We have to play like we did in the second half going forward. The first half, I don’t know why, but it was not the South Africa I am used to seeing. There was no depth in our team, and we gave the opponent the chance to put pressure on us.

“But maybe it was good that it happened, because we got a wake-up call in the first 45 minutes. I don’t think it will happen again,” added the veteran Belgian coach.

“This is a tough tournament, and sometimes you need a little bit of luck. We will see what we can do. I am confident because I saw in the second half what I want to see – the passion and the aggression,” he said.