Coach of South Africa Hugo Broos has admitted that it will be difficult for his team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup after their 0-0 draw against Zimbabwe, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Broos team were the group leaders until a three points deduction for fielding an ineligible player in March against Lesotho pushed Benin Republic to the top on goal difference.
Yesterday Benin won 1-0 away to Rwanda handing them a two points lead going into the last game of the series against Nigeria in Uyo. South Africa on the other hand need to beat Rwanda to be sure of progressing in the event that Nigeria beat Rwanda.
While explaining yesterday’s failure, the coach lamented the missed chances blaming it on ill luck.
“Yes, it’s true, I think we tried everything today, we didn’t have the luck either, one moment on the ball line saved, one on the post, you also need a little bit of luck in such games and we didn’t have it in our side today,” Broos told SABC Sport.
“We fight for it, we did everything, tried everything but ok, you see a very motivated Zimbabwe team against us and we knew it would be tough, but that’s also football.
“It was not in our favour, at that moment Zimbabwe just played 20 metres of their goal and they tried with the transitions they would be dangerous and they tried a few times with the transitions.
“They were dangerous too, but this is something that’s very hard to accept certainly, it’s not lost totally but it will be very difficult now,” he added.
Looking forward to the final round of games, the coach said they no longer have their destiny in their hand with their fate resting on the outcome of the game between Nigeria and Benin Republic.
“Yeah, this is not good, also that we don’t have the result in our favour either but what can I say? I can’t blame my team, I can’t be angry, I’m just very disappointed that we couldn’t score the goal that we needed,” Broos said.
“We have to play again like today and try to win that game and see what happens, if everything is like it has to be maybe Benin losing in Nigeria and with the goal-difference, I don’t have a good view of that but we just have to go for the victory against Rwanda and see what happens”.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
