Hugo Broos reacts to Angola win in AFCON opener | OneFootball

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Broos on Angola victory

Photo: Ryan Wilkisky/BackPagePix

Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has reacted to his team's hard-fought 2-1 victory over Angola in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) opener on Monday.

Oswin Appollis opened the scoring in the 21st minute, before Manuel Show leveled matters for the Palancas Negras, while Lyle Foster scored the winner 10 minutes from time.

Reflecting on the match, Broos feels his charges were complacent after taking the lead in the first half, which ultimately allowed Angola to claw their way back into the game.

“As I said before the game, losing your first game puts you in trouble and we tried to avoid it. We started very good in the game, we played good, we scored a goal and then I don't know for which reasons suddenly we fell asleep,” he said.

"And Angola were coming in the game, were dangerous with better combinations and we suffered because there was no aggression anymore. There was no passion in the team, we played very slowly and you feel that there will be a goal of the opponent and the goal was there.

However, the Belgian mentor was pleased with his team's response in the second half, reserving special praise for substitute Tshepang Moremi, who sparked life into the Bafana attack.

“We didn't find our usual game so we put some things right during halftime. I think Moremi made a good service. He played well, was quick, was a threat for Angola defense and that changed a lot,” Broos added.

"We were also more aggressive, we put more pressure on the opponent, we had more chances on the goal of Moremi but okay it was offside - I saw it now after the game. And then the shot of [Mbekezeli] Mbokazi [hit the crossbar] and you are thinking it will not happen tonight.

"But we had that fantastic goal of Lyle and we are very happy with the victory and now we can leave to the game of Egypt on Friday in other circumstances than if we had lost points today.

Bafana are level on three points with Egypt, who edged Zimbabwe 2-1 - and the two teams are set to lock horns for the top spot in Group B on Friday, 26 December.