Photo Credit - Bafana Bafana - South Africa.
South Africa coach Hugo Broos has sent a stern warning to their rivals that they are not afraid of facing any team anymore following their convincing 2-0 win against Benin in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying fixture at a sweltering Stade Félix Houphouët Boigny in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, on Tuesday.
Second half goals from Lyle Foster in the 52nd minute and Jayden Adams in the 84th minute were enough to give the South African national team victory away from home. The win came just a few days after they defeated a stubborn Lesotho side 2-0 at Peter Mokaba Stadium.
“It was not easy in South Africa in the first year; there were a lot of problems, but we went on to look for the right players for the right position. We found them, and I think now we have a very good team,” a tough talking Broos told reporters after the game.
“We are not afraid anymore of who plays against us. The only thing we have to do is hard work like we have done till now. I'm not saying that everything is already done. We are in a good position now, but I think with the group that we have and if we do not do stupid things, we are very close to World Cup qualification.”
On his game plan against Benin, the Belgian coach said: “I think, first of all, we did a good analysis of the opponent. Secondly, I think the players did what we asked from them. We knew where we could be dangerous against this team, Benin.
“It is a good team, but we did good today keeping the ball and waiting for the right moments. In the first half, we could really do something, but in the second half, it started being easy. We could score the second time, and I said to the bench, my assistant, that if we score once, we will win the game and I think it was like that.
“We dominated the game, and I think we deserved to win.”
The win took Bafana to 13 points at the summit of Group C, five clear of second-placed Benin, who now face an uphill battle to stay in contention.
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