Minister McKenzie defends Broos after AFCON exit, insists coach 'is going nowhere'

The Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, has defended Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos, insisting the responsibility for the team’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) exit cannot rest solely on the coach.

Bafana Bafana were eliminated in the last 16 stage of AFCON in Morocco on Sunday, following a defeat to five-time African champions Cameroon.

Following the loss, some supporters called for Broos’ removal, blaming team selection decisions for the early exit.

Speaking at the team’s return at OR Tambo International Airport on Tuesday, Broos said this year’s AFCON presented greater challenges than the previous tournament.

“I said before AFCON that this would be a more difficult tournament than the one before. We were bronze medal winners, and the mindset of our opponents was totally different compared to two years ago. We were South Africa then; now we were the bronze medal winners,” Broos said.

He added that the return of several powerhouse nations increased the level of competition.

“All those big countries - Egypt, Cameroon, Senegal, Morocco, and Ghana - were out in the previous AFCON. Now they are all in the quarterfinals. That again shows how difficult this AFCON was,” he said.

Meanwhile, Minister McKenzie praised the team’s performance, saying they should not be judged harshly.

“This is a national team that has done very well for us. We must not stand here and act like Bafana Bafana was knocked out in the first round. No. There are teams that can complain. We did great, but we didn’t do our best,” McKenzie said.

McKenzie went on to firmly defend Broos, saying responsibility for the team’s exit cannot be placed solely on the coach.

“I hear people saying it’s time for Hugo Broos to go. To go where? Hugo Broos is going nowhere, and I want to make that clear. Hugo Broos is going absolutely nowhere. Hugo Broos is going to Mexico, that’s where Hugo Broos is going,” he said.