South Africa’s thrilling 3–2 victory over Zimbabwe booked their place in the Last 16. It was a night of drama, goals and relief, but also one that exposed defensive flaws.
The win brought joy to fans across the country, yet it also raised serious questions about whether Bafana Bafana can go further in this AFCON. As coach Hugo Broos admitted in the post-match conference, “We have six days before our other game; we have to put that right.”
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South Africa started off strong, scoring first courtesy of a Tshepang Moremi goal that looped in after being deflected via Zimbabwe defender Divine Lunga in the 7th minute, which gave them an early edge over the Warriors, however defensive errors led to them conceding just 12 minutes later.
This is something that Hugo Broos addressed post-match saying “I can’t be happy about that because we are okay in attacking or offensive football. But we also have to defend and be good at it.”
“This is a problem for us, and we have to look after that in the week that is coming now. We have six days before our next game. We have to put that right, and again we can play for a clean sheet,” he said. His words echoed the frustration of fans who know knockout football is unforgiving.
Bafana showed resilience when it mattered most, fighting until the end to secure qualification. Yet the way they allowed Zimbabwe back into the game highlighted poor organisation and lapses in concentration. Broos warned, “If we go on like this, giving opportunities to the opponents, then it will be very difficult to win against our next opponents.”
The balance between attack and defence is now the central challenge. Full backs pushing high and gaps in transition worked against Zimbabwe, but as Broos cautioned, stronger sides will punish those spaces. His call is clear: stay compact, cut out turnovers, and rediscover the defensive discipline that once defined the team – especially through their successful World Cup qualification campaign.
South Africans believe this squad has the heart and talent to go further. The energy, flair and resilience are there. But as Broos has made it plain, clean sheets must return if Bafana are to turn promise into progress. Fans know goals win games, but defences win tournaments, and that truth may decide how far this team goes in Morocco.
Written by Mabongi Gazu