Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos expressed his belief in the result his team could afford against Uganda in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
South Africa and the Uganda Cranes played out to a 2-2 stalemate at Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Friday, a game that left Broos with mixed emotions.
“I’m seated here with mixed feelings. On one hand, I am very happy because at least we managed a point and on the other hand, disappointed because we didn’t win the game,” he said in the aftermath of the match.
It was a one-sided game in the first half, and the hosts took the lead as early as the 14th minute through Burnley’s Lyle Foster and created more scoring opportunities but couldn’t make them count.
Bafana Bafana were made to rue for their missed chances when the Cranes turned the game on its head soon after resumption.
Denis Omedi and Roger Mato beat Veli Mothwa from distance in the 51st and 53rd minute, respectively, and the goalkeeper’s errors left many South Africans regretting the absence of their captain and Yashin Trophy nominee Ronwen Williams, who has a shoulder injury.
“There are things I can’t say now that maybe I should have done this, maybe I should have done that,” Broos responded to the criticism of the AmaZulu shot-stopper.
South Africa’s equalizer came deep in stoppage time when Orlando Pirates’ Thalente Mbatha scored with a minute to go.
“We didn’t kill off the game when we had the opportunity but after falling behind the team realized that we had to fight back and I’m happy with a point because had we lost it would have been a disaster.” he noted.
The 2023 AFCON semifinalists will now shift their attention to their next opponent South Sudan in what looks to be a must win game.
“It will be another tough game and we shall be playing on a synthetic field and it won’t be easy but we have no excuse. If we show the motivation and character we showed at 2-1 against Uganda, I think we shall win,” the Belgian emphasized.
When the two Group K sides face off at Juba Stadium on Tuesday, September 10, it will be the first meeting between the Bright Stars and Bafana Bafana.
