Bafana Bafana coach Broos lauded for not bowing to public opinion pressure ahead of AFCON

Hugo Broos has been lauded for standing his ground despite pressure from a section of South Africans to include some players in his squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON.

Among the players who have been in fine form but did not make the squad are Thembinkosi Lorch, Brandon Petersen, and Bradley Grobler among others while Mamelodi Sundowns forward Iqraam Rayners could only make a standby list.

Raja Casablanca coach Fadlu Davids believes a tough assignment awaits South Africa in Morocco. The former Orlando Pirates tactician has further praised the 73-year-old Belgian for standing firm on his decisions regarding the final squad for the biennial competitions.

Give credit to Broos

We have not stopped working and we remain focused on the task at hand!!!! #BafanaPride@10bet_ZA @CastleLagerSA @HonorAfrica @Shield_ZA @SABC_Sport pic.twitter.com/CpcHm7cI41

— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) December 15, 2025

“Of course, we want Bafana to win it this time – and my second team, of course, is Morocco, so Bafana vs Morocco in the final will be fantastic for my situation. You have to give huge credit to the coach Hugo Broos, since he’s come, against public opinion he stuck to his vision, his plan and hius structure of how he wants to do things, and he’s turned around the fortunes of our country and our football.,” he said as quoted by SABC Sport.

“Yes, a lot of that has to do with and in relation to Motsepe’s vision of building Sundowns to the point of dominating Africa and building to a point of many years in the Champions League quarterfinals, semifinals and finals.

“That gives the players of Sundowns the experience of playing here on the African continent and it helps Bafana Bafana. Then Pirates’ recent production of young talents that are coming through, and Broos was always very clear about not picking players over the age of 30 – he made one exception with Themba Zwane after a lot of pressure.

“But you can only admire the coach for his vision and how he’s built the team so far,” Davids added.

The Lorch snub

Thembinkosi Lorch has been one of the most in form players in recent months but was left out of the AFCON team. Davids have shared his mind on the issue as well.

“Wydad are a team currently a little bit more direct in their approach, they play with a 6’4” striker [Hamza] Hannouri, so slightly more direct with a lot of crosses and long balls and setpieces.

“But the signings of Lorch and Aziz Ki – these players are making Wydad more interesing to watch because he’s been absolutely amazing – at every attack, Lorch is at the centre of it, so a lot of their team and attacks are going through Lorch.

“We know he’s the type of player that can win a match for you with one action, and he’s not only a player that can play between the lines, but one that uses the spaces behind the defence line as well.

“So he gives their team so much, in terms of creativity and flare, and what they were probably lacking in their approach or playing style, so he’s been absolutely amazing,” Davids concluded.