Broos points to growing belief as Africa shines at the World Cup

Yesterday, DRC, the first Sub-Saharan country to feature in the World Cup in 1974, completed the list together with Algeria. 

Broos says African countries are growing more competitive...

"It's a matter of believing. I think in times before African teams did not believe in themselves, they didn't think they could also enjoy success against the big European and North/South American countries, but in the last few years I believe that has changed.

"The belief is growing that we can play a certain role in the World Cup. I know it's much too soon to say but having an African Champion can happen." 

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Out of the 10 countries that qualified for the World Cup from Africa, only the Tunisians have failed to progress to the knockout phase.

There have been times in this tournament where some African countries, like Morocco and Cote d’Ivoire, have been in winning positions against Brazil and Germany respectively, but let their guards down. 

This is the lack of belief at times that Broos is talking about.

Bafana Bafana could become the first team from Africa in this tournament to make it through to the round of 16, and this could set the tone for the other eight teams to follow suit....

"They are a physical team and they go for it from the 1st to the 90th minute. We will not have peace for one second because they are very close to the ball, constantly pressing the opponent so that they might make a mistake, and they do it as the team. That is very difficult to play against. 

"The moment they have the ball everyone is moving and when they lose the ball they work very hard to get it back, but if we can do something against that then we have a big chance to win."

Broos has also coached only two countries at the international level, and that’s Cameroon - the 2017 AFCON champions and Bafana Bafana - the 2023 AFCON bronze medalists and now World Cup knockout participants.