South Africa head coach Hugo Broos expressed deep disappointment after Bafana Bafana were knocked out of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations by Cameroon in the Round of 16, admitting his side paid a heavy price for their wastefulness in front of goal.
The Belgian tactician also suggested that the Indomitable Lions could yet emerge as one of the tournament’s surprise packages.
Speaking after the match on Sunday night, Broos reflected on a first-half performance he felt deserved more, insisting South Africa had control and created enough opportunities to put the game beyond reach.
“I think we were very confident in ourselves, and we saw that clearly in the first half. I’m sure the Cameroonian team didn’t know what to do against us tactically. We always had free areas and created chances, but as I said at the beginning: if you don’t know how to convert those chances into goals at this level, you will pay the price, and that’s what happened to us,” he said.
The South Africa coach pointed to fine margins that swung the contest in Cameroon’s favour, highlighting how a moment of efficiency proved decisive against his side’s profligacy.
“Cameroon’s first goal came from a rebound shot that came back to the foot of a Cameroonian player who knew how to score, and apart from that, I don’t think Cameroon was really dangerous in the first half. We wanted to continue in the same way in the second half, but we conceded a second goal very early, and that’s when things became very difficult,” Broos noted.
Despite the setback, Broos praised his players for their persistence and effort until the final whistle, even as he lamented their inability to make their chances count.
“Despite that, we kept fighting and trying to change the result and create opportunities, but I go back to what I said: such opportunities at this level must be capitalized on and not wasted, and that is perhaps what was against us, and this does not negate what I said before the match; the Cameroonian team has great physical strength, and is a team in which every player plays for his teammate,” Broos stated.
Broos concluded by tipping Cameroon as a side to watch as the tournament progresses, backing them to go far if they maintain their current level.
“Cameroon is a very good team, and if they continue like this, they could be the surprise of this CAN,” the Bafana Bafana coach added.
