AFCON 2023: Neil Tovey Worried Cape Verde Poses a Challenge for Bafana Bafana in AFCON Quarterfinal

• Neil Tovey is worried about South Africa’s consistency in the AFCON 2023
• The 1996 Nations Cup-winning captain has urged Bafana to play at the same level
• Hugo Broos' side face Cape Verde in a crucial quarterfinal match in Yamoussoukro

Neil Tovey, South Africa’s 1996 Nations Cup-winning captain, is worried about Bafana Bafana maintaining concentration levels against lesser reputation sides.

Hugo Broos side face Cape Verde in a highly anticipated quarterfinal clash in the Africa Cup of Nations 2023.

In the last 16, they surprised everyone by defeating Africa’s top-ranked side 2-0 in San Pedro, Ivory Coast.

However, the upcoming clash with Cape Verde at Stade Charles Konan Banny in Yamoussoukro is expected to be equally challenging or even more demanding.

AFCON 2023: Springboks Captain Siya Kolisi Sends Message of Support to Bafana Bafana

Football

Despite their lower ranking, Tovey warns that the Blue Sharks could present a more formidable challenge for Bafana Bafana.

“The biggest challenge Bafana have now is getting around Cape Verde. In the other games it’s sort of been...how are Bafana going to do against strong teams? Whereas now everybody is saying, Ah well, Cape Verde, population 500,000 or whatever and expecting them to do well, but this is going to be a tougher game than against Morocco,” Tovey told TimesLive.

He stressed the need for Bafana Bafana to approach the Cape Verde game with the same attitude as they would against Nigeria, Morocco, or Egypt, expressing worries about the team's mentality.

While Morocco is Africa's top-ranked and the world's 13th-ranked team, Cape Verde is ranked 73rd globally and 14th in Africa.

They topped a tough Group B in Ivory Coast by beating Ghana (2-1) and Mozambique (3-0) and drawing against Egypt (2-2).

AFCON 2023: Morocco Coach Sends Warning to South Africa Ahead of Round of 16 Showdown

Football

With a population of only 600,000, the West African island nation has developed a competitive national team by sourcing players mainly from Europe, particularly Portugal, whom they could naturalize.

South Africa will be looking to reach the semi-final of the AFCON for the first time since 2000.

The team won their only AFCON title in 1996 but have never gotten close in over 20 years.

Orlando Pirates' Evidence Makgopa gets coach Hugo Broos' support

Sports Brief reported that South Africa's head coach, Hugo Broos, responded to critics questioning the inclusion of Evidence Makgopa in the AFCO 2023 team.

The Belgian coach is confident in the forward and believes in his potential to become a world-class striker.

Makgopa scored his first goal at the tournament during the last-16 match against Morocco on January 30.