‘We saw the vibe’ – Sports Minister slams Broos over ‘insulting’ Morocco AFCON jibe

Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie has hit out at Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos over what he terms a disrespectful comment towards 2025 Africa Cup of Nations hosts Morocco.

Broos said early last week that Morocco have been poor AFCON hosts as he did not feel the tournament vibe unlike when he led Cameroon at the 2017 edition in Gabon and in 2023 in the Ivory Coast with his current team.

“I don’t know, but there is no vibe, there is no typical AFCON vibe. I am not feeling it here, we play the game and we get everything we want. If they don’t let the people in free at the stadium, nobody is coming to watch the games,” said Broos.

Broos did not feel the vibe in Morocco

“Nobody came to watch the game between South Africa and Zimbabwe, nobody came to watch our game against Angola. In Ivory Coast, the first game was against Mali, but Tunisia and Namibia there were crowds there in the stands. Local people were involved in the tournament and I don’t feel that here,” he added.

Those comments generated varied reactions from across the continent with many in Morocco slamming Broos with even Egyptian legend Mohamed Aboutrika hitting out at the 73-year-old.

McKenzie has also weighed in, telling Broos he was wrong as what he witnessed in Morocco was different from the coach’s perspective.

McKenzie tells off Bafana Bafana coach

“You don’t go into someone’s country and insult them like that; it’s wrong,” McKenzie told the media on Wednesday.

“He’s in the hotel. How does he see the vibes outside? We were on the streets, and we saw the vibe. He was very wrong, and I’m going to apologise to the Moroccans on his behalf for his utterances.

“You don’t insult people in front of the whole world, a country that has welcomed us with such open arms. The Moroccans have done a good job, and this is the best Africa Cup of Nations I’ve ever seen.”