BAFANA Bafana coach Hugo Broos is pleased that their 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifying campaign is back on track following their exploits in the recent window.
Bafana climbed to second place in African Group C qualifying with seven points, level with leaders Rwanda, after drawing 1-1 with Nigeria and beating Zimbabwe 3-1.
But while the draw with the Super Eagles in Uyo was massive for the team given the challenges they faced ahead of the game, it was Tuesday night’s win that was largely celebrated.
At a sold-out Free State Stadium, Broos’ men reminded the sporting fraternity why they were once one of the best national teams in the land.
Bafana tore Zimbabwe to shreds as Thapelo Morena scored a second-half brace to secure victory after Iqraam Rayners put them ahead in the first minute, before Tawanda Chirewa’s quick equaliser.
The solid display duly entertained the people of Bloemfontein, who had come out in their numbers to enjoy a football game, which is something they’ve been starved of since the sale of Bloemfontein Celtic.
While Broos lauded the support as the best he’s had since taking over the reins three years ago, he was thrilled that their World Cup qualifying campaign took shape.
The Belgian believes that if they win all their seven home games – as Zimbabwe and Lesotho are expected to host them here in South Africa – they should qualify for the 2026 finals.
As such, Broos is not reading too much into the results of their opponents as he believes they can get the job done, as long as they focus on their campaign.
“I don’t look at the results of our opponents,” Broos argued.
“I just look at our results, and if they are good, whatever the opponents do is not important.
“So today’s result was important not only because Nigeria lost or (Rwanda won), but it was important for us to win, and we did.
“Don’t look at the other results. We won’t qualify by looking at the other results. We will qualify by our own results, and we are on schedule now.
“So let’s go on next year when the qualifiers resume. I think if we can maintain this level, then we have a huge chance of qualifying.”
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— SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) June 12, 2024
Bafana Bafana registered a 3⃣➖1⃣ victory over Zimbabwe in their FIFA World Cup Qualifier match in Bloemfontein!#SABCSportFootball #2026WCQ pic.twitter.com/K7zAt2wZGK
Not only does Broos want his troops to maintain their on-field performances but the camaraderie within the group as well, given the touch of top leadership from captain Ronwen Williams.
The Bafana No 1 pleaded with Broos to hand fan-favourite Relebohile Mofokeng, 19, his international debut when South Africa were in cruise mode.
That was a touch of superb leadership, so much so that Mofokeng got a delirious standing ovation during his cameo, bringing the team and country together despite playing for Orlando Pirates.
“Yes, the captain came and said, ‘Coach, what do you think, for the last few minutes, maybe, Rele?’ I said, ‘Okay, good idea’, and therefore he came on,” Broos said.
“But that again shows how the atmosphere is in this group. I said already those are 23 friends, and not colleagues. They are friends.
“If they can do something for someone else, they do it. Ronwen did it, I think a year ago with (Melusi) Buthelezi. He came on five minutes before the end of the game in a friendly.”
Bafana’s ability to work together and convert most of their chances also pleased Broos, who believes that they’ll continue to have their World Cup fate in their hands if they create chances.
⚽️ 𝔽𝕀𝔽𝔸 𝕎𝕠𝕣𝕝𝕕 ℂ𝕦𝕡 ℚ𝕦𝕒𝕝𝕚𝕗𝕚𝕖𝕣 ⚽️
— SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) June 11, 2024
Thapelo Morena gets a brace!
🇿🇦 3⃣➖1⃣ 🇿🇼
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🌐 https://t.co/hibb8lgo8P#SABCSportFootball #2026WCQ pic.twitter.com/u3cz49mQTb
The qualifiers are so demanding that teams are grouped according to the head-to-head and goal-difference rule, something that requires the sides to be clinical in front of goal.
“It was important that we won 3-1 – now we have two more goals. It will help us when we calculate in the end,” Broos explained.
“This means we did a good thing. We had many chances today (on Tuesday)... We could have scored the fourth and the fifth.
“But I repeat what we said on Tuesday. The moment we create chances, I am happy. I wouldn’t be happy anymore when we don’t create chances.”