Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has expressed apprehension regarding the condition of the pitch before their upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Congo on Tuesday at Stade Alphonse Massamba-Debat in Brazzaville (6 pm SA time).

South Africa is just three points shy of securing a spot in the next Nations Cup, scheduled to take place in Morocco from December 2025 to January 2026. The team achieved a resounding 5-0 victory over Congo at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Friday, featuring a brace from Teboho Mokoena, along with goals from Bathusi Aubaas, Lyle Foster, and Iqraam Rayners.

A win on Tuesday will ensure Bafana’s qualification for Morocco. The last encounter between Bafana and Congo took place during a Nations Cup qualifier in Pointe Noire on October 11, 2014, when a 17-year-old Rivaldo Coetzee made history as South Africa’s youngest debutant in a 2-0 victory under coach Shakes Mashaba. That match was also played on an aging synthetic surface that produced a low bounce.

“My primary concern is the state of the pitch. It’s synthetic,” Broos stated. “We’ve had negative experiences with synthetic pitches in the past when they are not up to standard. The one in Rwanda during our 2-0 World Cup qualifying defeat last November was particularly poor. I can’t understand how a World Cup qualifier can be played on such a surface. But let’s first assess the pitch; if it’s anything like the one in South Sudan, which was decent for our 3-2 AFCON win last month, then we won’t complain.”

Broos recognized that Congo will be eager to seek revenge for their heavy loss in South Africa and emphasized the need for his players to perform at their best once again. “Let’s hope the pitch is in good condition so we can showcase our usual style of play. They will be under pressure to avenge the 5-0 defeat, so we must prepare for that challenge and be ready for a tough game.”

Currently, Bafana Bafana sits second in Group K with seven points from two wins and a draw in their three matches, trailing Uganda on goal difference. Broos was pleased with the improved performance on Friday and is optimistic about maintaining that momentum on Tuesday.

“What more can I say after a performance like that? It was amazing—the way we started and played the game was exactly what I’ve always wanted to see from this team. We showcased fantastic football, scoring five goals with a high tempo. I am proud of this group of players; they know when it’s time to perform.”