SA Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie says he was annoyed by Hugo Broos’ comments that the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Morocco lacked a typical AFCON vibe.
The Bafana Bafana head coach made the comments two weeks ago comparing the 2025 event to previous tournaments where he felt the public also made the visiting teams feel welcomed by lining the streets and waving at team buses. Bafana were eventually eliminated from the tournament at the last 16 round by Broos’ former side Cameroon and landed in the South Africa on Wednesday.
Addressing the media at OR Tambo International Airport, McKenzie expressed his disappointment at the Belgian’s comments especially because the Minister felt Morocco did a great job as hosts while also offering an apology to the North Africans.
“Morocco for me was it was just the best, I think the Moroccans I take my hat off to them,” said McKenzie.
“This was the best African Cup of Nations ever. I can promise you that, you know the stadiums, everything was brilliant. Everything was arranged accordingly. The Moroccans did a sterling job and I’m extremely proud of Morocco. I mean they proved to the world that Africa is ready to host global events again.
“Ja, there was a vibe. I was very annoyed with the coach of Bafana Bafana I’m going to be straight with you. I was highly annoyed you don’t do that. You don’t go into a person’s country and insult them in their own country. Nobody should do that. It is not collegial it is wrong.
“He’s in the hotel how does he see vibes outside? We were on the streets we saw the vibes. So, it was very wrong, and I want to apologize to the Moroccans on behalf of his utterances. You don’t do that. You don’t insult people in front of the whole world that has welcomed us with such open ups.
“The Moroccans has done a sterling job, and it is the best African Cup of Nations I have ever seen.”
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