16 October 2024 – Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos believes that the early loss of Themba Zwane due to injury contributed to his charges sharing the spoils against Congo Brazzaville in an away 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier played at Stade Alphonse Massamba-Debat de Brazzaville on Tuesday evening.
Broos was forced to make a substitution five minutes before the halftime break after Zwane suffered an injury and had to be replaced by Patrick Maswanganyi. The two sides went on to draw this AFCON qualifier after first half goals from Elias Mokwana in the 33rd minute and Congolese striker Andre Bassouamina just before the break.
“Themba Zwane is a very important player for us. It was not a good thing for us that Themba had to go out with an injury,” Broos said.
“It is a big injury, it is an Achilles tendon injury. I’m afraid he will be out for months. So, again, when you lose such an important player, it’s difficult, certainly in a game where you dominated. It’s always difficult to lose such a player because Themba is someone who can keep the ball, who can give the last pass. So, he was not there and maybe that was also a reason why we didn’t play so well.”
Broos conceded that the Congolese were a tougher nut to crack at home after losing 5-0 to Bafana Bafana in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape a few days ago. “Congo surprised us at home and we could not find a way to score here,” he said.
Bafana Bafana remain in second place in Group K with eight points, just two behind group leaders Uganda (10 points). The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers resume in November when the South African senior national team travels to Uganda to face the East Africans away from home, and then returns to host South Sudan in the final match of the group.
