Hugo Broos: ‘My work with Bafana Bafana better than Cameroon AFCON win’.

 By Knowledge Muneri 

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos believes he has achieved more with South Africa than during his Africa Cup of Nations-winning stint with Cameroon. Broos lifted the Cup of Nations with Cameroon in 2017, but his tenure was short-lived. In contrast, he has had the opportunity to develop a squad over five years with South Africa, leading them to two AFCON qualifications, including a bronze medal finish, and a World Cup berth.

"I think what we've done with South Africa is better than what I did with Cameroon," Broos said. "We built a team here, and that team progressed day by day. When you go to AFCON, you always have ambitions, but you never really think that at some point, you'll have the opportunity to play in the final."

Broos highlighted the significant progress made by the Bafana Bafana team, noting that for 95% of the players, the 2024 AFCON was their first major tournament. He contrasted this with his experience with Cameroon, a team that was expected to win the tournament and was under immense pressure.

"When I look at what we've done here with South Africa, finishing third at the previous AFCON, now qualifying twice in a row for AFCON, and also qualifying for the World Cup, that's something I didn't do with Cameroon," Broos said.

The Belgian coach emphasized that he looks at the bigger picture as a coach, beyond just winning trophies. "We won AFCON with Cameroon, and four months later, we were out of World Cup qualification and Nigeria went through. So for me, I'm happier with the work I've done here (South Africa) than with the work I did with Cameroon."

Broos is confident that the Bafana Bafana team will make a strong showing at the 2025 AFCON, which kicks off with a Group B clash against Angola in Marrakech on Monday.