Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has made it clear that a win is non-negotiable in their upcoming World Cup qualifier against Lesotho.
Speaking ahead of the match, Broos stressed the importance of not dropping points as his team looks to maintain its lead atop the group.
The South African side currently sits in a strong position with 13 points from six games, holding a five-point advantage over second-place Rwanda.
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They will take on Lesotho this Friday at the Dr. Petrus Molemela Stadium in Bloemfontein before facing Nigeria next Tuesday.
“The game on Friday is a must-win. We can’t afford to lose points against Lesotho,” Broos told IOL. “That does not mean I underestimate the opponent; that would be the biggest mistake we can make. We have to keep the pressure on our opponents.”
Putting the Pressure On
Broos believes a victory on Friday would put Bafana Bafana in a commanding position, forcing their rivals to play catch-up.
“If we win on Friday, the job is done. It is up to our opponents to stop us. We put pressure on them. We have to make sure we win,” he said.
He highlighted a potential scenario where a Bafana Bafana win puts added pressure on Rwanda, who will play Nigeria on Saturday.
“If we win on Friday then they [Rwanda] have to win on Saturday, and Rwanda cannot afford to lose if they are to keep their second position. It would be an ideal scenario. But we have to win,” Broos added.
Squad Changes and Confidence
Despite a few setbacks, including two players dropping out due to injury, Broos remains confident in his squad’s ability to secure the win.
Patrick Maswanganyi was forced to withdraw after an injury, with his Orlando Pirates teammate Sipho Mbule called in as a replacement.
Additionally, Thabo Moloisane was brought in for defender Ime Okon.
“I am confident. I know the quality of the players. We are still strong enough to beat Lesotho,” Broos stated.
“But we have to be focused, be concentrated, to reach our best level. Let’s start fighting for every square meter on the pitch and try to win that game. Again, it should be a good situation for us.”