‘He Had Bad Passes' - South Africa Coach Blasts Midfielder After Lucky Escape Against Zimbabwe

South Africa coach Hugo Broos has expressed his unhappiness at the display of one of his players in their hectic game against Zimbabwe, which they won 3-2 on Monday.

South Africa were run rugged by their neighbours in their final group stage match at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations on Monday with the game swinging both sides before they won courtesy of a late penalty.

Bafana Bafana were sliced open with ease in midfield and defence, something that has not be seen from them in nearly two years, and Broos feels most of was down to losing the midfield battle at key moments of the game.

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The Belgian coach is disappointed that one of his reliable midfielders Sphephelo ‘Yaya’ Sithole gave away possession cheaply, forcing him to bring on Mamelodi Sundowns man Bathusi Aubass to get a foothold in the game.

“Yaya, defensively, he was okay but once he had the ball, he lost many balls also had bad passes,” Broos told SABC Sport.

“Almost every time when he had the ball, we would lose it to the opponents, then we had to do something.

“With Bathusi in the second half, it was better. We had the control of the ball, the passing was better and we played better also. Again, we brought ourselves in trouble and this is something that has to stop.”

South Africa eventually weathered the storm to seal their place in the last 16 but the performance will be a worry as they await to know who between Mozambique, Cameroon and Ivory Coast they will face in the knockout rounds.

Sithole is one of Broos’ trusted men as the veteran coach prefers him and Teboho Mokoena in central midfield when both are fit but his horror show against Zimbabwe will leave the player worried about his position heading into the next round.