Hugo Broos, the South Africa coach, is brimming with confidence as they prepare to face Nigeria in the World Cup qualifier in June. He boldly states that his team no longer fears any African opponent.
Building the team around domestic players, Broos believes they have made significant strides since he assumed the coaching role back in 2021.
South Africa’s impressive performance in the last Africa Cup of Nations, where they clinched the third spot by defeating Morocco, serves as a testament to their progress.
Despite recent friendly matches resulting in a 1-1 draw against Andorra and a thrilling 3-3 tie with Algeria, Broos remains convinced that his team has evolved and is well-prepared to take on any African challengers.
Meanwhile, Nigeria is grappling with upheaval after coach Jose Peseiro’s departure at the end of February.
Reflecting on their recent matches, Broos remarked to Sunday World, “We faced a formidable opponent, yet I don’t see a significant gap between our performance quality and that of Algeria. This indicates our development over the past few months. We showcased it in the AFCON and reiterated it against Algeria. Therefore, I believe we are no longer daunted by the prospect of facing any African side.”