In the aftermath of Nigeria’s quarterfinal victory over Angola, where Ademola Lookman secured the only goal of the game, South Africa’s coach, Hugo Broos, remains upbeat about facing the Super Eagles in the AFCON 2023 semi-final, according to Sportblog247.com.

Broos, 71, has been at the helm of Bafana Bafana since 2021 and successfully guided them to the semi-finals of the AFCON 2023 tournament. The Belgian coach experienced an intense moment on the bench during a penalty shoot-out against Cape Verde, with goalkeeper Ronwen Hayden Williams making crucial saves to secure victory for the one-time AFCON champions.

In his post-match conference, Broos assured that his team would be well-prepared for the upcoming clash against Jose Peseiro’s squad in Bouake on Wednesday. Acknowledging Nigeria’s talented players, especially Ademola Lookman, he emphasized the need for focus and player readiness, emphasizing the importance of rest and recovery in their preparation.

Reflecting on the hard-fought win over Cape Verde, Broos humorously commented on the toll the match took on him, saying, “Let’s say six hours ago I was 71, now I’m 75. It was a stressful game, certainly the penalties. You know what happens when you have to take penalties; it’s a very special situation for the players.”

Both goalkeepers, Stanley Nwabali and Ronwen Hayden Williams, have maintained clean sheets throughout the tournament in Ivory Coast.