Bafana Bafana’s head coach, Hugo Broos, has provided his thoughts on 2024, a year during which his team excelled on the pitch, achieving a remarkable performance and securing the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) bronze medal.

Their play was enthralling, garnering a multitude of admirers across their continental journey. It became commonplace to witness even opposing fans grudgingly recognizing and applauding the well-oiled unit that emerged in recent months. These thrilling performances have captivated attention, resulting in Broos’ squad receiving several nominations for the 2024 CAF Awards, set to take place on Monday, December 16, 2024, in Marrakech, Morocco. The Belgian coach affirmed that every nomination they received is thoroughly deserved.

“I can only express pride because when you consider what we’ve accomplished over the past two years and the results we’ve produced, it’s clear that everyone is feeling satisfied once again,” he stated.

“A positive ambiance now envelops this team. Upon my arrival, there was little to be optimistic about. We implemented significant changes. After our AFCON match against Morocco, where we triumphed, the Morocco coach said to me, ‘you don’t play like South Africa anymore’. (South Africa defeated Morocco 2-0 at the Laurent Pokou stadium in San Pédro, Côte d’Ivoire, on January 30, 2024). For me, that was the highest praise I’ve ever received from another coach. It reflects the transformation we have undergone, which was essential.”

“I believe we have always possessed technically skilled players. We have consistently had capable individuals, and at PSL matches, I see the talent. They manage the ball well and execute precise passes. However, there was something lacking. What were we missing? We needed strength and a more direct style of play. That is what we set out to instill in the team. It took time for the players to adjust to this new approach.”

Ronwen Williams, the captain and goalkeeper of South Africa’s senior men’s national team, nominated for the Ballon d’Or Yashin Trophy, leads an impressive list of nominees that also features Broos, UWC’s Thinasonke Mbuli, Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies’ Andile Dlamini, the Bafana Bafana team, African champions Banyana Banyana, and Mamelodi Sundowns.

Just a few months after clinching the bronze medal at the AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire, Broos’ squad achieved successful qualification for the upcoming continental tournament in Morocco, concluding their qualifying campaign without defeat after a 3-0 victory against South Sudan in Cape Town last month. The Belgian coach expressed contentment as he reflected on the year, considering his team’s strong performance.

“This is why I hold this team in such high regard. The players are attentive to your guidance and work hard to apply it. While there are varying degrees of success, when you observe our current playing style, it has evolved beyond merely passing back and forth. At the right times, the ball is propelled forward. This was particularly noticeable in our match against South Sudan,” Broos detailed.

“We consistently sought opportunities to exploit spaces behind the defense, and we have players capable of doing so. With talent within our ranks, we’ve slightly shifted our style of play, bolstering the team’s strength. They no longer overpower us as they did in our match against Mali (during the AFCON).”

Complete CAF Awards nominations list:

Men’s Player of the Year
Ronwen Williams (South Africa)
Simon Adingra (Cote d’Ivoire)
Serhou Guirassy (Guinea)
Achraf Hakimi (Morocco)
Ademola Lookman (Nigeria)

Women’s Player of the Year
Sanâa Mssoudy (Morocco)
Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria)
Barbra Banda (Zambia)

Men’s Coach of the Year
Hugo Broos (South Africa)
Emerse Fae (Cote d’Ivoire)
Sébastien Desabre (DR Congo)

Women’s Coach of the Year
Thinasonke Mbuli (University of the Western Cape)
Lamia Boumehdi (TP Mazembe)
Ahmed Ramadan (FC Masar)
Mohamed Amine Alioua (AS FAR)

Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year
Ronwen Williams (South Africa / Mamelodi Sundowns)
André Onana (Cameroon / Manchester United)
Yahia Fofana (Cote d’Ivoire / Angers SCO)

Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year
Andile Dlamini (South Africa / Mamelodi Sundowns)
Khadija Er-Rmichi (Morocco / AS FAR)
Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria / Paris FC)

Men’s Interclub Player of the Year
Ronwen Williams (South Africa / Mamelodi Sundowns)
Ahmed Sayed (Egypt / Zamalek)
Hussein El Shahat (Egypt / Al Ahly)

Women’s Interclub Player of the Year
Sanâa Mssoudy (Morocco / AS FAR)
Lacho Flora Marta (Angola / TP Mazembe)
Doha El Madani (Morocco / AS FAR)

Men’s Young Player of the Year
Lamine Camara (Senegal / AS Monaco)
Karim Konaté (Cote d’Ivoire / Salzburg)
Oumar Diakite (Cote d’Ivoire / Reims)

Women’s Young Player of the Year
Habiba Sabry (Egypt / FC Masar)
Doha El Madani (Morocco / AS FAR)
Chiamaka Okuchukwu (Nigeria / Rivers Angels)

Men’s National Team of the Year
Bafana Bafana
Cote d’Ivoire
Nigeria

Women’s National Team of the Year
Banyana Banyana
Morocco
Nigeria

Men’s Club of the Year
Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
Al Ahly (Egypt)
Zamalek (Egypt)

Women’s Club of the Year
TP Mazembe (DR Congo)
AS FAR (Morocco)
Edo Queens (Nigeria)