Hugo Broos weighs in on goal difference in FIFA World Cup qualifiers

Unlike in CAF competitions, where head-to-head separates teams tied on points, FIFA first considers goal difference – something coach Hugo Broos knows all too well after Bafana were pipped to the 2022 showpiece by an inferior goal difference to Ghana. 

READ: 'Yaya’ Sithole relishing Bafana Bafana opportunity in front of KZN fans

Ahead of Saturday’s campaign opening qualifier in Durban against Benin, Broos is wary of putting his team under unnecessary, early pressure.

"It's important, goal difference, we know it from the last World Cup qualifiers, yes. But I don't think you can start a game – certainly not for these two games, thinking, 'Okay, we have to score as much as possible,'" defended Broos.

"Okay, we have to score as much as possible, and if we can win 3-0 then it's better than 2-1, but this can't be the main goal of a game. The main goal has to be to win it.

"So, when you can win twice then you have six points, and then what the others do is their problem. But maybe at that moment, already some of your opponents will be behind you, which means from the next games, they have to play and the pressure is on them.

"But, again, we don't have to stop [trying to score] either when it's 1-0 and say, 'Okay, now it's finished, we win the game...' No, this is something we have to keep in mind that, if the possibility is there to score two or three goals.

"But it can't be the main goal now, thinking about Saturday that we need to score! No, no, we need to win – start with that, and then we will see if it's possible to score more than one, or two, or three goals."

ALSO READ: Lesotho buzzing after World Cup qualifier result away to Nigeria