Hugo Broos Shares His Thoughts On Bafana Bafana's 2-2 Draw Against Uganda

Holifil

04 Apr, 2025

Hugo Broos breaks down Bafana Bafana’s dramatic 2-2 draw with Uganda in the AFCON 2025 qualifiers
Orlando Pirates sensation Thalente Mbatha came through in the clutch, scoring a last-minute goal to save South Africa from a loss
Broos opens up about his conflicting emotions following the intense match

Hey there, sports fans! Hugo Broos has had some time to reflect on South Africa’s nail-biting 2-2 draw against Uganda in their opening match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The game, held at the iconic Orlando Stadium on Friday night, was nothing short of thrilling, leaving fans on the edge of their seats. Let’s dive into what went down and what Broos had to say about it.

It was Burley striker Lyle Foster who got the ball rolling for Bafana Bafana with the first goal of the game. But just when it seemed like South Africa had the upper hand, Uganda’s Denis Omedi and Rogers struck back-to-back goals, flipping the script and putting the Cranes ahead 2-1 in the second half. The tension was palpable, but Orlando Pirates star Thalente Mbatha stepped up big time. Making his international debut, he scored a crucial late goal, ensuring that South Africa left the field with at least a draw.

Hugo Broos reacts to Bafana Bafana's 2-2 draw against Uganda in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying opener. Photo: Ulrik Pedersen. Source: Getty Images

Broos Opens Up About the Mixed Bag of Emotions

So, what’s going on inside the mind of Hugo Broos after such a dramatic match? According to iDiskiTimes, Broos shared his thoughts during the post-match press conference, and let me tell you, his feelings are all over the place. He’s got this weird mix of happiness and disappointment swirling around in there.

Read also:
Meet Tshwanes New Mayor Dr Hazel Nasiphi Moya

"I'm sitting here with mixed feelings," the former Cameroon national team coach confessed.

"On one hand, I'm really happy because we managed to salvage a draw. But on the other hand, I'm disappointed because we couldn't seal the deal and win the game."

Broos went on to explain that his team had plenty of opportunities in the first half to take a commanding lead. But as it turned out, Uganda was just sharper, and that made all the difference. He admitted that this was something he had anticipated before the game, but it still stung to see it play out in real-time.

"In the first half, we had some chances; we could've scored more than just one goal. But from the start, it was clear that Uganda was much sharper than we were," he added.

"I was worried about this before the match. You see them come out of the dressing room, not sharp enough, and within two or three minutes, you're down 2-1. It's frustrating, but that's football."

Broos on Tshegofatso Mabasa's Omission

Why Mabasa Didn’t Make the Cut

Now, let’s switch gears for a moment and talk about Tshegofatso Mabasa. If you’ve been following the news, you might’ve heard that Broos made a bold statement about Mabasa not making the Bafana Bafana squad. According to Briefly News, Broos justified his decision by saying that Mabasa’s playing style is too similar to the current strikers in the squad, namely Iqraam Rayners and Lyle Foster.

Even though Mabasa had an incredible season last year, finishing as the PSL’s top goalscorer, Broos felt that his style didn’t bring anything new to the table. Tough call, right? But that’s the world of professional sports—sometimes tough decisions have to be made for the greater good of the team.