Bafana have really clicked

Bafana Bafana’s victory over Morocco in the last-16 of the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) has shown them they can beat the best on the continent, when it really matters.

This surely has to increase belief in Hugo Broos’ camp that they can now go all the way and lift a first Afcon title since 1996.

Much was made of the fact that Bafana’s Afcon qualifying victory over the Atlas Lions in June at FNB Stadium was a dead rubber, even Morocco head coach Walid Regragui saying afterwards that his players “had their minds on the holidays”.

In San Pedro on Tuesday, however, there could be no such excuses for the Morocco coach, as his team of overseas-based stars were humbled by Hugo Broos’ superbly-organised Bafana, who gave a display full of fight and heart, combined with a ruthlessness in attack that was vital against this defensively solid Atlas Lions side.

Hugo Broos is also a coach who has won the Africa Cup of Nations before (with Cameroon in 2017), and has shown an aptitude for tournament football again here.

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” goes the old mantra, and the Belgian has been blessed in being able to pick the same team for three consecutive games.

There is clearly a togetherness in the Bafana squad under Broos’ leadership, and while Bafana did beat hosts Egypt in the last-16 under Stuart Baxter in 2019, this victory, over the World Cup semifinalists, is even more impressive.

In 2019 Bafana succumbed to Nigeria in the quarterfinals, and Broos’ Bafana, on paper, have an easier task on Saturday against Cape Verde.

Broos already made mention of this ahead of the Morocco game, saying that if they could find a way past the Atlas Lions, they could go all the way to the final.

If this Afcon has shown anything, it is that there is a danger in under-estimating any opponent, and Cape Verde have shown their class in this tournament.

But the win over Morocco has shown Bafana that they have nothing to fear from any side left in this tournament.