Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has defied the trend of larger squads at the Africa Cup of Nations, sticking to a traditional 23-man contingent with just three players on standby.
While Mali, Tunisia and Namibia plan to bring 27 players to Ivory Coast for the tournament, Broos remains unmoved, citing two key reasons: budget constraints and the importance of squad harmony.
“The 27 or 23 players is a matter of budget,” Broos acknowledged, but his main concern lies in maintaining a positive atmosphere within the team. “I’m not a fan of taking 27 players to put four in the stands every game,” he explained.
For Broos, the mental well-being of his players is paramount. “It’s not good mentally for players,” he emphasized. “The number 26 or 27 will never play, so why should I take them?”
He draws on his own experience as evidence. “I won AFCON with 23 players at Cameroon,” he pointed out, “and even there, three or four players didn’t play a minute. You could have big problems with the wrong mentality.”
His focus is on maximizing the potential of his chosen players. “I have enough choice with 23,” he declared. “It can happen that you have injuries, but I don’t think it will. I have enough to go to Ivory Coast.”
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HUGO BROOS PRIORITISES TEAM SPIRIT
Broos’ approach marks a contrast to some of his competitors. Mali boss Mohamed Magassouba, for instance, sees the larger squad as offering flexibility and strategic options. “It allows us to adapt to different situations and cover for any deficiencies,” he explained.
The debate over squad size is likely to continue as the Africa Cup of Nations approaches. Broos, however, remains confident in his decision, prioritising team spirit and budget discipline over a potentially unwieldy 27-man group. With the tournament kicking off on January 13th, only time will tell if his strategy proves successful for Bafana Bafana.