South Africa head coach Hugo Broos says his side proved doubters wrong after Bafana Bafana secured a place in the FIFA World Cup knockout stage for the first time in the nation’s history.
South Africa sealed qualification with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over South Korea on Wednesday, finishing second in Group A behind co-hosts Mexico, who completed the group stage with a perfect record.
The result marked a remarkable turnaround for Broos’ men, who came under heavy criticism after opening their campaign with a 2-0 defeat to Mexico.
After recovering to earn a draw against the Czech Republic, South Africa delivered when it mattered most in Monterrey, with Thapelo Maseko’s second-half goal proving decisive in what effectively became a winner-takes-all clash for second place.
Speaking after the historic victory, Broos took aim at critics who had questioned his methods and demanded changes to the team.
“I’m very proud of this team,” the Belgian coach said.
“We answered those who had a lot to say in recent weeks and believed we needed to change things. We stayed with our approach, trusted our process and this is the result.”
Broos, who has managed South Africa since 2021, admitted the achievement carried special meaning as he enters the closing stages of his coaching career.
“I’ve said before that some of these could be among the final matches of my career. To experience something like this and finish a career in this way is something every coach dreams about,” he said.
The 74-year-old also praised the bond he shares with his players, describing their relationship as one built on trust and mutual respect.
“I’m their coach, but there’s also friendship there. The relationship we have is very strong and I think that connection has helped us achieve moments like this.”
South Africa’s reward is a Round of 32 showdown against tournament co-hosts Canada in Los Angeles on Sunday, with a place in the last 16 at stake.
Broos believes his players are ready to continue making history.
“The team will be prepared again and we’ll try to go one step further,” he said.
“That would make this journey even more historic. These players want to keep proving themselves and showing the world they are a good team.”
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