After achieving his goal of collecting four points in Bafana Bafana’s opening two World Cup qualifiers, head coach Hugo Broos is now targeting a win away from home as South Africa bid to reach the global tournament in Qatar n 2022.
Bafana resume their qualification campaign against Ethiopia in Bahir Dar on Saturday with the return leg set for FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on Tuesday evening.
South Africa currently top Group G with four points from their home victory over Ghana as well as a point from their goalless draw against Zimbabwe in Harare in September.
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Broos said a win on the road would enhance Bafana’s chances to win the group, and his team have two chances to do it. “On Saturday and in a month’s time in Ghana. Logically, I think it’s easier, if I can say that, to win in Ethiopia than in Ghana,” projected the veteran Belgian just before the team’s departure to east Africa on Thursday.
“Ghana are a better team than Ethiopia. So we have a chance to do it [win in Ethiopia].”
Coach’s Hugo and Cedo soaking up some sun and chatting tactics along Lake Tana. #BahirDar #Ethiopia #WCQualifiers #BafanaPride pic.twitter.com/VzRueYLYp7
— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) October 8, 2021
However, Broos warned that Bafana must not underestimate the east Africans, who have proved to be South Africa’s hoodoo side in the past. And unlike Bafana, the Ethiopians have qualified for the Afcon finals in Cameroon in 2022.
“The opponents are there and they have some qualities. We have to be careful with that, but on the other side, it’s about what we are going to do when we have the ball and when the opponents have the ball. We’ll try and have the game under control, otherwise we’re going to suffer for 90 minutes if we don’t," he said adding:
It’s been an eventful few days for Broos, who made headlines when he was denied entry to watch the Orlando Pirates versus Mamelodi Sundowns league match at Orlando Stadium a fortnight ago.
This week, the 69-year-old made startling claims that there were people hell-bent on sabotaging his Bafana project.
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A win over Ethiopia would put a smile on Broos’ face. A few years ago, the east Africans held South Africa to a 1-1 draw in Rustenburg in the North West and won the return leg of their 2014 World Cup qualifiers in Addis Ababa 2-1. Bafana failed to advance to the global championships that was hosted by Brazil.
Back-to-back victories over the Ethiopians will firm Bafana’s grip on top of Group G. It will also put Broos and his men in an ideal position in their bid to be among the 10 group winners to advance to the third and final round in the ultimately chase for five berths at the World Cup finals in Qatar.
GROUP G standings
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | Points | |
| 1. South Africa | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 2. Ghana | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 3. Ethiopia | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 4. Zimbabwe | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
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