Cape Town – Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has highlighted a major challenge facing the South African national team, saying the squad struggles when competing against sides whose players mainly feature in European leagues.
Broos explained that the lack of exposure to European football limits the experience and competitiveness of South African players.
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He said the team faced a disadvantage at AFCON, where many competing squads had most of their players based in Europe.
The coach emphasised that giving South African players more opportunities to play abroad is crucial for their development and for improving the team’s performance on the international stage.
Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos says the team was at a disadvantage because some of the teams that were at the AFCON have most of their players playing in European leagues. He says SA players need to get the opportunity to go to Europe and be challenged more. @Yolulwe_Qoshe… pic.twitter.com/YBRloVTqc6
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) January 7, 2026
The Belgian coach’s comments come amid discussions on improving the development pathways for South African footballers, particularly in creating opportunities to compete at higher levels internationally.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
