Bafana Bafana of South Africa coach Hugo Broos has expressed his team’s desire to play in the final of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast.
The South Africans will lock horns with the Super Eagles of Nigeria in one of the semi-finals at the Stade de la Paix, Bouake on Wednesday. The South African contingent arrived Bouake on Monday morning.
The Super Eagles will head into the game as favourites, but Broos is banking on his side to upset Jose Peseiro’s men.
“Reaching the semifinal is very special for South African football,” Broos said.
“Maybe we can make a surprise (vs Nigeria) now. The hunger is big to play the final next Sunday.”
The Belgian led Cameroon to win the 2017 AFCON in Gabon, after beating Egypt 2-1 in the final.
The Super Eagles defeated South Africa 2-0 in the semi-final of the 2000 edition of the AFCON at the National Stadium in Lagos, and also won 2-1 the last time both countries met in the quarter-finals at the 2019 edition in Egypt.
The Bafana Bafana progressed to the semifinal of this year’s competition after a thrilling penalty shootout win over Cape Verde on Saturday night, while the Super Eagles defeated Angola 1-0 to book a place in the semifinal.
