Hugo Broos Receives Acclaim in Ivory Coast
Bafana Bafana coach, Hugo Broos, has garnered praise and admiration in Ivory Coast for his team’s performance against the Elephants on October 17, 2023.
The Ivorians were left impressed by Bafana’s showing during the friendly match held at a packed Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan.
Comparing Broos to Jean-Louis Gasset
Following the game, some quarters in Abidjan voiced their opinion that Hugo Broos outshone his Ivorian counterpart, Jean-Louis Gasset.
The Ivorian supporters believed that Gasset was tactically exposed by Bafana during the match.
Hugo Broos: Recognized Abroad
While Broos has faced criticism in South Africa, the Ivorian fans had a different perspective.
They saw Broos as the better coach during the match, highlighting the old saying that a prophet is without honor at home.
Recognition of a High-Level Coach
One Ivorian fan, Josias Michael, emphasized, “You know a real coach when you see him.”
He went on to say, “The one from South Africa is better, showing who is truly a high-level coach.”
Support and Constructive Criticism
Another supporter, Bangaly Fofana, praised Broos while also pointing out the need for tactical improvement.
Fofana stated, “Hugo Broos blew it tactically today. It is all well and good to criticize the players, but if we want to go far in this CAN [Afcon], the coach will also have to get up to speed.”
Different Opinions
However, not all Ivorian supporters were critical of their team’s performance. Diomandé Moussa shared a more positive viewpoint, saying, “We didn’t lose in the two matches [including against Morocco] against big-name players.
For a team like Côte d’Ivoire which is rebuilding, it is already good.”
Support for the Elephants
These perspectives were expressed by supporters under the banner of “Support for the Elephants,” an online community dedicated to Ivorian football enthusiasts.
The group boasts 1.6 million subscribers who followed the Bafana game with great interest.
Match Highlights
During the friendly match, Bafana Bafana displayed a commendable performance against the Elephants. South Africa took the lead just nine minutes into the game, with Themba Zwane finding the back of the net, assisted by Teboho Mokoena.
Ivorian Response
The Ivorians managed to level the score in the 65th minute, with Sebastien Haller, Borussia Dortmund striker, scoring a diving header.
Despite the draw, some Ivorian fans criticized Jean-Louis Gasset’s coaching tactics.
Looking Forward to Afcon and World Cup Qualifiers
These discussions took place as Ivory Coast prepares to host the delayed 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals.
The Afcon finals are scheduled to run from January 11 to February 13, 2024.
The friendly match between Bafana Bafana and the Elephants served as a preparation for both the Afcon finals and the upcoming World Cup qualifiers set to begin next month.