Broos left frustrated ahead of South Africa’s clash against Benin

By Ayanda Nyuswa

Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has expressed frustration after his side got barred from hosting their pre-match training session at the Stade Félix Houphouët Boigny in Abidjan, ahead of their important 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Benin on Tuesday. Benin will host South Africa in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire as their home venues were deemed not suitable for FIFA accredited matches, the Cheetahs have already played seven matches in the Ivorian capital. 

Both Benin and South Africa have been unable to stage their routine 60-minute pre-match training sessions at the venue where the match will take place, due to complications of having the host nation Ivory Coast staging their own FIFA World Cup qualifier against Gambia on Monday evening (21:00 SA time). 

Broos has been left understandably frustrated by the mix up that has led to his team not being able to train at the Stade Félix Houphouët Boigny ahead of their World Cup qualifier. 

“First of all I have to tell you I am really not satisfied with the decision that we can’t have a pre-match training in the stadium where the game will take place,” said Broos. 

“I think this is a FIFA rule that every team has the right to have a preliminary training before the game of 60 minutes, in the stadium where the match takes place. I understand it because there is another game but this is bad when people who make the rules don’t follow the rules. Will that have an influence on the game? I don’t know, but I know if tomorrow after the game I am not at the press conference there will be a sanction. So we have to follow the rules, where are the rules now? You will will tell me that was for both teams, I don’t think so. I think Benin have already trained at the stadium because they were here before us. It’s all nice to say follow the rules, we have to follow everything but we have the right to train today at the stadium where the match will take place.”