It’s been joyous. Bafana Bafana beat Africa’s number-one-ranked team, Morocco, last Sunday. The result sealed a quarter-final place at Afcon 2023.
With Cape Verde to face South Africa on Saturday at 22:00, David Modise has shared some nerve-wracking views.
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AFCON 2023: MOROCCO 0-2 BAFANA BAFANA
The South African national side did not start well in Ivory Coast. The first battle was a humbling 2-0 loss to Mali.
Hugo Broos’ side responded superbly with a 3-0 win over Nambia on matchday two. That match was followed by a dull but gritty 0-0 draw with Tunisia.
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The biggest test for Bafana was in the final 16.
A goal by Orlando Pirates striker Evidence Makgopa and a fabulous free-kick by Teboho Mokoena sealed progress to the final eight.
“I don’t think that I have to tell you that I’m very happy today,” coach Broos said, as quoted by iDiskiTimes.
“We beat Morocco and it’s not only because we are in the quarter-finals, but beating a team like Morocco is something special. This is a very good team with very good players but we did the right analysis and the way we played, the tactic was the right one.
“First half was a little bit of a [slow] game, I thought that both teams were a little bit afraid of each other, but the second half was more open with a few chances for Morocco but we scored and that is always important to score the first. After that, we were a bit lucky because Morocco started to play powerplay with their good players, high balls and very hard duels. So they had a few chances then but after the second goal it was over and we are in the quarter-final.
“And we are very, very, very happy.
Coming up next is a meeting with West Africa’s rising powerhouse Cape Verde. The Islanders, ranked two places below us on the continent, have three wins out of four games, including a victory over Ghana. They have scored eight goals and conceded three,” the Bafana tactician concluded.
DAVID MODISE WARNING
According to the former Bafana Bafana midfielder, Modise, South Africa will meet their match in terms of technical quality and overall style.
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“It’s a tough one in terms of the level Cape Verde are playing at,” Modise told TimesLIVE.
“It’s going to be an interesting game. Don’t forget we’ve got the skill and they’ve got the skill, we’ve got the speed and they’ve got the speed, but they have more power than us in terms of the aggression of winning the ball.
“ I would say we are similar to them. Though probably they have more experience playing in Portugal, where most of them grew up.
“But I think this is going to be the game that’s better for us in terms of play, because we are going to meet a team that is not strategic and disciplined in terms of their defence. They are a team that attacks. And that will also give us options to attack.
“But it’s a tough game. Both are underdogs. Neither is among those top teams who expect to win the Afcon, the giants like Morocco, Egypt and Senegal. Those teams are out.
“It is now going to be anyone’s tournament, so I think we’ve got a chance. Once we beat the team [Cape Verde], which is going to be a tricky one.
“This team has the same attitude we have, but they are more physical than us and they attack the space quicker,” the former Bafana Bafana international concluded.
You can find more articles from Siseko Gwegwe here.
