South Africa boss Hugo Broos stressed that his players are not intimidated by Egypt’s high-profile attackers ahead of their Africa Cup of Nations encounter on Friday.
South Africa boss Hugo Broos stressed that his players are not intimidated by Egypt’s high-profile attackers ahead of their Africa Cup of Nations encounter on Friday.
The Belgian tactician revealed that his squad will approach the match with collective concentration rather than focusing on isolated threats. He made clear that neither Mohamed Salah nor Omar Marmoush will receive tailored defensive plans.
Broos insisted that the identity of the opponent does not change the main target, which is to perform as one unit. He underlined that his approach remains identical regardless of the rival’s reputation or individual brilliance.
Marmoush, who plays for Manchester City, netted the leveller in Egypt’s victory over Zimbabwe before Salah delivered the winner late in the match. That 2-1 success came in Morocco on Monday and gave Egypt a strong start in Group B.
South Africa began their campaign with the same outcome, sealing a 2-1 win over Angola. Lyle Foster’s stunning long-range goal proved decisive in their opening fixture.
The clash between the two sides is set to carry extra interest, as both teams are pushing to maintain momentum in the group after opening-round triumphs.
Broos acknowledged the individual level of Salah, Marmoush, Trezeguet, and numerous others within Egypt’s ranks. He described the opposition as a powerful squad, rich in quality across multiple positions.
He referenced his mindset from 2017, when he guided Cameroon to the continental crown by defeating Egypt in the final. He explained that his philosophy is built around nullifying the collective rather than hunting down one specific threat.
The South Africa manager repeated that the plan is to utilise his regular lineup and rely on the qualities that carried them to victory in their first match.
The previous Africa Cup of Nations encounter between the sides happened in 2019, with South Africa knocking out the hosts in the Round of 16. A single goal was enough to seal that result and send Egypt out of the tournament.
Broos stated that they must force Egypt into uncomfortable moments again. According to him, the key to Friday’s showdown lies in executing their strengths consistently and applying constant pressure in suitable phases of the match.
