Coach of Bafana Bafana of South Africa, Hugo Broos has said that it would have been a bitter experience had his side failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
South Africa qualified for their first World Cup since 2010 when they hosted the tournament, picking the Group C sole ticket.
The 78-year-old coach spoke to Super Sports after it was confirmed that Bafana Bafana have won the Group with Nigeria coming second.
Broos pointed out that football in Africa has changed since he became the coach, saying supporters do not come to the stadium to watch matches until now.
“That is fantastic. I won the World ticket for South Africa. I was third in the Africa Cup of Nations and now today the qualification.
“But don’t ask me to choose what is what [which one gives him more joy] Because really, all four were, for me, a fantastic experience.
“I think those people [the fans] were waiting a long time for that, and we all said it the previous days.
“We can’t lose that. We can’t hold ourselves not to qualify. There’s a whole nation who was waiting for that qualification. And when you’re so close and if you should not succeed, then it’s very bitter, very, very bitter.
“You see the joy with the people. You see how they’re coming to the Stadium, how they’re supporting us. When I came here four years ago, there was nobody in the Stadium.
“It was very difficult for us to play in an empty stadium. Now today, everyone is behind us, and this is a very, very nice feeling.”