Broos warns Bafana Bafana of AFCON challenges as South Africa aim high

It’s a long way from being nobodies to wearing the crown of title contenders, but Bafana Bafana have made that journey in style. Their rise is a rags-to-riches tale that few South African football fans could have imagined not so long ago.

Belgian coach Hugo Broos has been central to the squad’s transformation. Under his guidance, South Africa head to Morocco for the latest edition of the Africa Cup of Nations as potential winners. Ronwen Williams and his teammates now carry a target on their backs, seen as one of the continent’s top football nations.

It is a position a country as well-resourced and brimming with talent should always occupy. Yet, following the dizzy heights of winning the continental tournament nearly 30 years ago and medalling in the next two editions, Bafana fell on hard times, becoming the continent’s laughing stock. Enter Broos – an AFCON winner with Cameroon – and everything changed.

As he prepares for his last hurrah as coach, the straight-talking Broos knows that this tournament will not be ‘as easy’ as the last edition in the Ivory Coast.

“It will be different for us than the previous AFCON," Broos said earlier this week.

"They didn’t take us seriously because, oh yes, South Africa ... But we showed them that we are a good team, and now everyone knows that we are a good team. They will be ready to fight against us, to try and win against us, because winning against South Africa now is different than it was two years ago. We have to adapt ourselves."

The septuagenarian stressed that a strong start to the tournament is crucial.

“We have to adapt and make sure that in the first game against Angola we are ready. It will not be like the last AFCON. We played against Mali and we saw what we missed in that game – aggression, power.

"We did very well in the games after. We knew we had to change our style of play. Therefore, if we do well at AFCON – and we will try to do what we did two years ago and reach the semi-finals – it will help us play a good World Cup in June next year.”

Broos has studied Angola carefully ahead of the opener.

“The draw of AFCON is not bad, but it is a little tricky with a team like Angola. Two months ago, I did not know much about them, but once the draw was done, I checked.

"They are not a bad team; their players also play abroad. You can’t really judge now what to expect. It is our first game. And in a tournament like this, it is important to win your first game.

"You saw the previous AFCON – we lost against Mali, it was a nightmare against Namibia in the second game. We will try to avoid that because our second game is against Egypt, which is tough. And then we have a transitional Zimbabwe. Again, the first game is very important.”

He reiterated that the Nations Cup is a demanding competition.

“I’ve said it already before that the AFCON is very intense. And certainly now, with the status that we have, it will be different.”