Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has admitted he was afraid his team would lose momentum after Group K's 2025 Africa Cup of Nations match against Congo was halted by the officials mid-first half owing to a security breach.
Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Teboho Mokoena claimed his brace inside the first 27 minutes. A few overwhelmed fans skipped the perimeters and joined players on the pitch to celebrate the second goal.
It was something that did not go down well with the officials who stopped the match until more security personnel were added. The game, eventually, resumed after about 20 minutes of stoppages.
Bathusi Aubaas, Lyle Foster, and Iqraam Rayners scored after resumption to help Bafana Bafana win the game 5-0. However, it was not what Broos had anticipated especially after the forced pause by a section of the fans.
You never know what will happen – Broos
“I can only be happy after a performance like this, I was a bit afraid after 20 minutes when the referee decided to stop the game because we were in good momentum, and you never know after the break after 10,15 minutes what will happen,” the Belgian said after the game.
“But the boys immediately took the same mentality they had at the beginning of the game, it was just a fantastic game and a fantastic performance also
“You know we’ve been working together for many months and years. Everyone is happy with everybody. I have a fantastic group; the mentality is fantastic, and the quality is there also.”
We want to come from Congo with a 2025 Afcon ticket
On October 15, Bafana Bafana will be away against the Red Devils, and a win will seal their place in the biennial competition regardless of what happens in the remaining rounds.
“Tuesday is again a match, so tomorrow we forget the 5-0,” the 72-year-old Belgian continued.
“We will try to achieve six [points] from six and come back from Congo with [Afcon] qualification, it will be a different game certainly on a different pitch also, so we’ll see but if do the same performance like Friday, we can win, we can achieve that.”
Uganda top Group K with seven points as well after beating South Sudan by a solitary goal.