17 October 2023 – Bafana Bafana have learnt some valuable lessons from their goalless draw against Eswatini last week and coach Hugo Broos’ charges are now fully focussed on Tuesday night’s international friendly match against Côte d’Ivoire in Abidjan.
Broos does not believe that his team underestimated their neighbours in a game they were expected to win and attributes the performance to a lack of concentration and a ‘lacksey-daisy’ display in mentality and physicality. After taking stock of the disappointing 0-0 draw with Eswatini at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on Friday 13 October 2023, the South African senior national men’s team have put the game behind them and turned their attention to Côte d’Ivoire.
“We know that Cote d’Ivoire are the hosts of next year’s Africa Cup of Nations, and we also know their calibre and what they can do having watched their game against Morocco. We know what we are up against and we know what we need to do. We have to turn the page, we have to focus, we have to take this match seriously and we want to win,” said Broos.
The turn-around time has not been much with recovery training on Sunday and MD-1 training at the venue on Monday. But such is the nature of football that the team have to get stuck in and get the job done, regardless of almost 10 hours of travel. A lot will be at stake and much more will be expected from Bafana Bafana, given that the AFCON is now just three months away.
There are no fitness concerns in the team and captain Ronwen Williams is expected to assume his spot between the sticks after recovering from minor ankle issues.
Tuesday’s weather forecast in Abidjan is typical of the season, overcast with scattered thundershowers. The team trained in light rain on Monday and this will have prepared them for what is to come on matchday.
Kick off is at 9pm (SA time) at Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium.