Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has put the emphatic result of his team’s first meeting with Congo Brazzaville behind him and wants his charges to treat Tuesday afternoon’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier against the same opposition as if they are facing the Central African side for the first time.
Broos’ charges beat the Congolese 5-0 in Gqeberha a few days ago and the Belgian coach expects the hosts to provide a stiffer test when they welcome the South Africans to the 17 000-seater Stade Alphonse Massamba-Debat de Brazzaville on Tuesday afternoon.
Bafana Bafana training at Stade Alphonse Massamba-Debat de Brazzaville, the match venue for the 2025 AFCON qualifier against Congo Brazzaville tomorrow afternoon. There was a slight drizzle in Brazzaville today, and it helped cool temperatures #BafanaPride #AfconQualifier pic.twitter.com/iAzVp9uKFT
— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) October 14, 2024
“If they lose tomorrow, qualification for Afcon is over for them. We know what to expect tomorrow against Congo Brazzaville. We are going to play against a team that may be different, and motivated. Tomorrow is a new game,” said the Bafana Bafana coach on Monday.
2025 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifer
— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) October 14, 2024
⚽️ Congo Brazzaville 🇨🇬 vs 🇿🇦 Bafana Bafana#BafanaPride pic.twitter.com/YbQgZEMzaF
Captain Ronwen Williams said the hosts should be a different team in front of their fans and Bafana Bafana have to take control of the game very early and keep the fans quiet.
“Obviously we know that we are in a different country, and we are not at home. We can feel it, but we have got the experience, and we know how to deal with playing away. We have gained valuable experience over the last few years.
"We have a group of players that have been together for three years now, so it is for us to go out there and do the best we can do, fight, challenge and be determined in every duel and make sure we keep the fans quiet. The fans can give them energy and boost them.”