South Africa head coach Hugo Broos has once again courted controversy at the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, raising concerns over aspects of the tournament’s organization ahead of his side’s Round of 16 clash with Cameroon.
The Belgian tactician took issue with the lengthy travel arrangements his team faces, revealing that players spend about 45 minutes commuting from their hotel to the training ground. Broos argued that such logistics disrupt preparation and concentration, insisting that travel time at a tournament of this magnitude should be limited to 15 or 20 minutes. He described the situation as particularly frustrating with the prospect of a potential quarter-final meeting against hosts Morocco.
Broos’ latest comments follow earlier criticism during the group stage, when South Africa faced Egypt in Agadir. On that occasion, he condemned crowd management around the stadium, claiming there were chaotic scenes outside the venue. According to the coach, supporters with valid tickets were denied entry, while others without tickets gained access. He added that his family, who were present at the match, felt unsafe amid the disorder.
The Bafana Bafana coach also drew comparisons with previous AFCON tournaments, suggesting Morocco lacks the festive atmosphere he experienced in countries such as Côte d’Ivoire and Gabon. He recalled seeing fans lining streets, waving flags and welcoming teams to training sessions at past editions, a spirit he believes has been missing in Morocco.
Despite his criticism, Broos acknowledged the quality of the host nation’s infrastructure, praising the stadiums and training facilities. However, he maintained that issues surrounding fan access and public engagement detract from the overall tournament experience.
“If supporters are not allowed to enter freely, they will not come,” he said, stressing that the challenge lies less with facilities and more with ensuring genuine fan participation.
However, Broos’ remarks appear at odds with the broader picture of AFCON 2025. The tournament’s group stage recorded more than 729,000 spectators, the highest attendance ever at that phase of the competition, surpassing figures from the 2023 edition in Côte d’Ivoire.
Morocco’s hosting has also been widely praised, with reports highlighting efficient organization, state-of-the-art venues and high-quality broadcast production, even in the face of difficult weather conditions. These indicators point to strong fan interest and engagement, challenging Broos’ assertion that public enthusiasm has been lacking.
As the tournament progresses, Morocco continues to set new benchmarks in African football, making the South African coach’s repeated complaints sound increasingly detached from the prevailing reality.
