Hugo Broos banking on quality opposition before 2023 AFCON

The coach feels this will be important to prepare thoroughly for the tournament and be competitive.

Bafana confirmed their qualification to the AFCON finals after beating Liberia 2-1 in Monrovia on Tuesday and will wrap up their Group K campaign against Africa’s number-one ranked country Morocco in June. 

But the Belgian tactician feels they also have to be careful not to go for top-ranked African opponents.

"Yeah, but we don't need to play against all the top teams of Africa, that shouldn't be good either. There are other teams, for example, you have Gabon – if you can play against them, you have a good opponent," said Broos.

"You don't have the top but you have a good opponent, and I think we have to chase after those kinds of opponents. Not directly Senegal or directly Cameroon, or not directly Egypt, or whatever. You have to go a little bit below that level."

Broos has not forgotten the 5-0 hammering Bafana received at the hands of then-World Champions France, shortly after the World Cup qualifiers, and says their choice of opposition should be informed by lessons from the past.

"But again, we have to go to increase and get to a higher level, so it's not good to immediately go to the highest level – you saw what happened against France and everyone wanted us to win against them, it's impossible and you do more bad than good.

"So, this is what we have to be careful of when we're choosing our opponents, but it has to be strong opponents, that is for sure."