South Africa Coach Broos. CAF
“When I look at our opponents for AFCON, I think that Egypt is the favourite to win the group,” Broos said in an interview with the South African Football Association’s (SAFA) media department.
“They didn’t perform like everybody expected at the last Afcon, but in the last year and a half, they have built a very good team. They did very well in the qualifiers, so they will be the team to beat for first place,” he added.
Bafana Bafana, who finished third in the previous edition of the tournament in Ivory Coast, was drawn alongside Egypt, Angola, and Zimbabwe in Group B. Despite acknowledging the group's challenge, Broos remains optimistic about South Africa’s chances of advancing to the knockout stages.
“In general, I think we can be satisfied. It is not an easy group, but I think we have a great opportunity to qualify for the next round,” he said.
“And then, as you know, after the group stages of AFCON, anything is possible. So, we will do everything to do better than the last AFCON,” he added.
Broos highlighted Egypt’s recent form, noting their improvement since the disappointing performance in 2021. The Pharaohs have shown consistency in the qualifiers, reinforcing their reputation as a formidable force in African football.
The South Africa coach also commented on their matches against regional rivals Zimbabwe and Angola. While Zimbabwe presents a familiar challenge, Broos admitted limited knowledge about Angola and emphasized the importance of thorough preparation.
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