Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos says he was happy to collect three points in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers opener, but also bemoaned that his side struggled to cope with the height of Benin goalscorer Steve Mounie.
It was a game of two halves, as Bafana started the match very confident and were up 2-0 at the break thanks to an early goal by Percy Tau and a second by Khuliso Mudau in first-half stoppage time.
But after the break, Bafana struggled to control the game, allowing Benin back into the match at Moses Mabhida Stadium, with Mounie scoring for the Cheetahs to make it a nervy ending to the match.
“Sure I’m happy, it was not an easy game,” Broos told SABC1.
“But I said already don’t underestimate the opponent, they play a simple game – kick in front and then fighting for the ball.
“We had some problems in the second half and with the goal they scored there was a little panic in the group but ok, the most important thing for qualifiers is to win the games and we did.”
Broos did admit his frustration with his side being unable to match Mounie’s height.
“Against the game that Benin played it’s very difficult, you also need guys of 1.90m height, we don’t have them,” he added.
“They kicked always the ball to that long player, and then with the header and then the second ball and this is difficult to defend.
“But ok, they only had that one chance and it was a goal. At the other side we had two little chances to score the third goal, then the game would’ve been finished.
“But the goal from Benin it was to the end suspense.”
