Head coach of South Africa’s senior men’s national team, Hugo Broos has promised to ‘fight till death’ when they come up against the Black Stars of Ghana in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying match next month.
The Bafana Bafana lead the qualifying Group G by a point ahead of the Black Stars with two games to go.
South Africa host Zimbabwe and Ghana go to Ethiopia in the penultimate round of matches before the two teams square off in Cape Coast in the last game.
It is expected that the meeting in Ghana will decide who qualifies top of Group G and Broos, speaking after his team’s narrow 1-0 win over Ethiopia last Tuesday, says his charges will leave everything on the pitch in that game.
“If the situation is what it is now, and we go to Ghana one point ahead, Ghana will have to win the game, they will have no other solution,” said Broos, after a Getaneh Kebede own goal had secured his team a tense three points on Tuesday.
“So maybe we can do something there. With the match against Sudan in mind from some months ago, that can never happen any more. We will fight until we die, then we will see. But first, we have Zimbabwe, let’s think about that (first).”
If Bafana beat Zimbabwe and Ethiopia can take down Ghana, of course, South Africa will have already won Group G before the Ghana game, a dream scenario.
“I hope my colleague can give me a present next month by beating Ghana!” quipped Broos, with Ethiopia head coach Wubetu Abate seated next to him.
The Sudan game Broos is referencing came under previous Bafana head coach Molefi Ntseki, when Bafana, needing only a draw to qualify for the next Africa Cup of Nations, conceded early goals and lost 2-0 in Sudan.
South Africa lead the group with 10 points followed by Ghana who have collected 9 points. Ethiopia and Zimbabwe are out of the race.