Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has cautioned that both FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Benin will be tough, and urged the players not to underestimate their opponents.
Broos comments come ahead of Friday’s first match against Lesotho at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, before jetting off to Ivory Coast to meet Benin in the second qualifier a few days later.
The team arrived in Polokwane today, ahead of Friday’s clash.
“As everybody knows, we have important games in front of us.
It’s a key moment, I said that already before, if we can achieve two victories against Lesotho and Benin, then I think we can make a big step in qualification, certainly also taking into account the other games in the group.
We will try to do it, and on the other side we know that these will be tough and difficult games,” said Broos.
The Belgian mentor described Lesotho as a team that supports each other, for every ball, especially when playing against South Africa.
“So, I think they will try to do something more against South Africa and against other teams.
So again, it will be a tough game.
And then we have the game outside of the country against Benin.
The only advantage we have here is that Benin is playing in Ivory Coast, so a big crowd and their supporters will not be there.
That is a little advantage for us,” remarked Broos.
Bafana Bafana are currently in second place in Group C, and level on points with log leaders Rwanda, who will also host Nigeria in Kigali on Friday.
