Khuliso Mudau and Themba Zwane of South Africa during the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations match between South Africa and Namibia at Stade Amadou Gon Coulibaly on January 21, 2024 in Korhogo, Ivory Coast.
(Photo by Segun Ogunfeyitimi/Gallo Images)
Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has hailed talismanic midfielder Themba Zwane who scored a brace and delivered a Man of the Match performance as his side collected their first win at the AFCON.
South Africa got their AFCON title ambitions back on track with a win resounding victory over Namibia in their second group stage match on Sunday night.
A Zwane brace and a goal each from Percy Tau and Thapelo Maseko wrapped up what would be so far the highest winning margin by a single nation at this year’s AFCON edition.
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Speaking to media after the match, Bafana coach Hugo Broos admitted that South Africa was forced to play an unfamiliar style of football but had plenty of praise for the Man of the Match.
“I think the boys learned their lesson. We had a debriefing two days after the [Mali] game and we showed them the things we shouldn’t do anymore,” Broos said.
“What’s wrong with kicking the ball in front, even if there is nobody when you are in trouble? There is nothing wrong with it. That’s what we did [against Namibia].
“Maybe our football was more ‘realistic’ and I’m happy about that, that we know also it doesn’t always have to be nice football and good combination, technique and style. Sometimes you have to fight for it and kick the ball and you need the players who run after the ball.
“That was the case today with the maestro in the midfield, Themba. I said it already several times, when Themba plays well the team plays good.
“We saw it today again. Even if it was not really his football. Themba is the man with the combination but he knew where to go and we could always give the ball to him.
“If it wasn’t for him, over the two wings also, Percy and Thapelo, the guys who went deep and that hurt the defence of Namibia and again I’m very happy, not only about the result but also the way because this was not South African football.”
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The win puts Bafana up to second place in Group E with one more match to play – a crushing encounter against bottom-of-the-table Tunisia.
The match will played on Wednesday, 24 January. Kick-off is at 19:00.
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