Bafana Bafana: 1996 legend sends warning

It’s been joyous. Bafana Bafana beat Africa’s number-one-ranked team, Morocco, last Sunday. The result sealed a quarter-final place at Afcon 2023.

With Cape Verde waiting on Saturday at 22:00, Tovey has highlighted the danger upon South Africa.

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AFCON 2023: MOROCCO 0-2 BAFANA BAFANA

The South African national side did not start well in Ivory Coast. The first battle was a humbling 2-0 loss to Mali.

Hugo Broos’ side responded superbly with a 3-0 win over Nambia on matchday two. That match was followed by a dull but gritty 0-0 draw with Tunisia.

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The biggest test for Bafana was in the final 16.

A goal by Orlando Pirates striker Evidence Makgopa and a fabulous free-kick by Teboho Mokoena sealed progress to the final eight.

“I don’t think that I have to tell you that I’m very happy today,” coach Broos said, as quoted by iDiskiTimes.

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“We beat Morocco and it’s not only because we are in the quarter-finals, but beating a team like Morocco is something special. This is a very good team with very good players but we did the right analysis and the way we played, the tactic was the right one.

“First half was a little bit of a [slow] game, I thought that both teams were a little bit afraid of each other, but the second half was more open with a few chances for Morocco but we scored and that is always important to score the first. After that, we were a bit lucky because Morocco started to play powerplay with their good players, high balls and very hard duels. So they had a few chances then but after the second goal it was over and we are in the quarter-final.

“And we are very, very, very happy.

Coming up next is a meeting with West Africa’s rising powerhouse Cape Verde. The Islanders, ranked two places below us on the continent, have three wins out of four games, including a victory over Ghana. They have scored eight goals and conceded three,” the Bafana tactician concluded.

NEIL TOVEY WARNING

According to the 1996 Afcon-winning captain, South Africa often do better against the big-name nations, and Cape Verde are not.

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“The biggest challenge Bafana have now is getting around [that it’s] Cape Verde,” Tovey told TimesLIVE.

“In the other games it’s sort of been, ‘How are Bafana going to do [against strong teams]?’ Whereas now everybody is saying, ‘Ah well, Cape Verde, population 500,000 or whatever’ and expecting them [to do well], but this is going to be a tougher game than against Morocco.

“I’m concerned because I’ve always questioned our team’s mentality.

“And you can’t look at them as Cape Verde because all their players are playing in Portugal and the like — imported players. So they’re going to be a tough unit to crack,” the Bafana Bafana legend concluded.