Hugo Broos, the Head Coach of South Africa, expressed his belief that his team deserved a spot in the finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) following their narrow defeat to Nigeria on penalties.

Despite coming from behind to level the game and force a penalty shootout, South Africa ultimately fell short in the semi-final clash.

Broos voiced his disappointment, stating, “Football can be hard sometimes. When you see the performance of my team today and then there are penalties, and you lose, it's hard to accept because we played a very good game today.”

Reflecting on the match, Broos highlighted South Africa's strong performance, particularly in the first half, asserting that they were the superior team overall. He lamented missed opportunities and emphasized that his team created more chances than their opponents.

Acknowledging the disappointment of missing out on the final, Broos commended his players for their efforts throughout the tournament, describing it as a source of pride for the team.

Despite the setback, South Africa will regroup to contest the third-place playoff against D.R Congo on Saturday, February 10, with Broos hoping to end the tournament on a positive note.