South Africa coach Hugo Broos said Bafana Bafana have surpassed expectations after reaching the semi-final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
The 1996 AFCON champions defeated Cape Verse 2-1 on penalties after playing a goalless draw at the end of 120 minutes.
Ronwen Williams was the hero of the shoot-out as he saved four penalty kicks to secure South Africa’s progress into the last-four.
Broos applauded his team for their hardwork in training which paid off in Yamoussoukro and admitted Bafana Bafana did not put in their best display.
South Africa finished second in Group E with four points in three games and they defeated 2022 World Cup finalists Morocco in the round of 16 to keep their title hopes alive.
After Saturday’s win, the Belgian coach told the media: “When we got to the penalty shootout, it was a special thing for the players, because during training they were scoring them. When we have a goalkeeper who stops 4 penalty kicks, this is not luck but a lot of hard work.
“Not many people in South Africa believed in this team, but we believed in it, and the players believed in themselves as well. Reaching the semi-finals is in itself a good thing for South African football.
“There was a lot of pressure in the match. Everyone wanted to qualify. This match was unlike the previous ones. We did not show the same performance as we had in previous matches.”
South Africa’s next hurdle will be against Nigeria on Wednesday, in a game that would be a repeat of the 2000 AFCON.
