South Africa’s coach, Hugo Broos, has encouraged his players to aim high and “dream of the final” following their victory over Morocco, the favorites for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Evidence Makgopa and Teboho Mokoena scored the goals in a 2-0 win over 2022 World Cup semi-finalists, Morocco, on Tuesday.
The 1996 holders will face Cape Verde in the quarter-finals on Saturday at 20:00 GMT.
South Africa began the tournament with a 2-0 defeat by Mali but went on to secure qualification from a group that saw 2004 champions Tunisia knocked out.
Broos stressed the importance of growing as a team throughout the tournament, and he believes that their victory over Morocco has given them the confidence to aim higher.
“The most important thing is that you can grow in a tournament, when you become better and better,” said Broos.
“It’s very good in a tournament that South Africa does it. We eliminated Tunisia. And we were ready to have the confrontation with Morocco.
“If you can win that, then the confidence is so big that we dream now of the final.”
“It was a difficult game, Morocco is still a difficult side and it does not take away how good they are that we won,” South Africa forward Percy Tau said.
“We’ve always been a serious team but for us to win against Morocco and [draw with] Tunisia and to get out of our group, it also gives us a good reputation.
“It does not take away how difficult this tournament is. And that the next game is still going to be also difficult.”
Broos, who is Belgian, has previously won the Afcon trophy himself, guiding Cameroon to victory in 2017.
