South Africa
Bafana coach slams CAF after Morocco gets home advantage
Broos questions CAF’s decision to allow Morocco to play home fixture against Liberia
Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has questioned how the Confederation of African Football (CAF) allowed Morocco to play what was supposed to be their away Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Liberia on home soil in Casablanca.
Broos unhappy with the fact that Bafana’s Afcon group only has three nations
The 70-year-old also raised the issue that Bafana’s Afcon group only had three nations vying for qualification after FIFA banned Zimbabwe and Kenya over government interference in the countries’ football associations.
Morocco hosted Liberia in their home soil in June 2021
The Atlas Lions hosted the West Africans in June last year for their Group K qualifying clash, as Liberia, at the time, had no international-standard stadium. Morocco cruised to a 2-0 win at Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca four days after coming from behind to beat Broos’s charges 2-1 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
Bafana to host Liberia now
Meanwhile, Bafana will host Liberia at Orlando Stadium on Friday (18:00) before travelling to Liberia for the away fixture four days later on Tuesday (18:00, SA time) in Monrovia, the Liberian capital.
Broos slams CAF for playing favourites with Morocco
“The fact that we are from the beginning only with three teams is rubbish,” Broos said at Thursday’s press conference. “It’s not a normal qualification, and you see what happened. Morocco is almost qualified after two games, and they can play their away game in Morocco. This is all possible here in Africa. This is unbelievable. Ok, when Liberia doesn’t have a stadium that conforms with FIFA rules, then you play in another country but not in Morocco, who is with you in the group. CAF said, ‘ok, no problem’. They are already qualified after two games … This is not normal.”
Morocco’s path to Afcon looks clearer
After beating both Bafana and Liberia last year, Morocco’s path looks much clearer. The Atlas Lions only need a draw against Bafana in June to guarantee their name is seeded in the Afcon draw later this year.
Bafana hopeful for back-to-back victories
Despite Broos’s issues with Africa’s leading association, the Belgian mentor is confident that his Bafana charges can pull off back-to-back victories that will ensure Bafana’s passage to the tournament next year in Ivory Coast.
“I knew from the beginning that maybe those two games against Liberia will be decisive to be qualified or not,” he added. “We have the opportunity to do it in two games. Why shouldn’t we do it? I know it’s easier to tell that than to do it, but I believe in this team.”
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