Hugo Broos redirects South Africa attention to World Cup post AFCON elimination

Hugo Broos redirects South Africa attention to World Cup post AFCON elimination

South Africa manager Hugo Broos dismissed claims that his squad had declined following their last 16 departure from the Africa Cup of Nations versus Cameroon on Sunday, instead pivoting his thoughts to the upcoming World Cup.

A 2-1 loss to the Indomitable Lions in Rabat concluded Bafana Bafana's run in the initial knockout stage, coming two years since they secured third position at the previous AFCON in Ivory Coast.

"We are not moving in reverse -- perhaps in certain matches the displays fell short of the standard everyone associates with South Africa, yet you cannot claim that about todays effort," the experienced Belgian manager Broos remarked, maintaining that chance did not smile on his side against Cameroon.

They advanced from their group as runners up to Egypt, securing tight and underwhelming victories over Angola and Zimbabwe, flanked by a loss to the Pharaohs.

"At times you require a bit of fortune, and two years back in the quarter final versus Cape Verde, Ronwen Williams pulled off a crucial stop, or we might have been defeated in that one," Broos continued.

"Today fortune evaded us. We are not regressing, but we must conduct a thorough review of events at this competition as we prepare for the World Cup."

South Africa has earned a spot in the World Cup for the first instance since they hosted it in 2010.

They led their qualification group over Nigeria and are set to meet co hosts Mexico in the kickoff fixture on June 11, followed by encounters with South Korea and a European play off qualifier in the group stage.

Their forthcoming fixtures consist of friendlies in March to intensify readiness for the North American showpiece.

"Over the coming days and weeks, we shall perform a detailed assessment of positives and negatives, and determine necessary adjustments since the World Cup arrives in six months, demanding full preparedness," Broos stated.

"We aim to confirm our readiness via those March friendlies, ensuring solid groundwork for the World Cup."