Hugo Broos slams Morocco and the host's organization: lack of atmosphere

South Africa remain in a strong position to qualify for the round of 16 at the 2025 AFCON, currently sitting second in Group B after a win against Angola and a narrow loss to Egypt.

However, despite Bafana Bafana’s solid sporting situation, head coach Hugo Broos sparked controversy on Sunday evening by launching a fierce critique of the tournament’s organization in Morocco, going against the generally positive feedback surrounding the competition.

Speaking at a press conference, the Belgian tactician openly lamented the lack of atmosphere and organizational issues around the stadiums. Broos compared the current AFCON unfavorably to previous editions in Ivory Coast and Gabon, stressing that the tournament vibe felt absent. He also described chaotic scenes before matches, revealing that even fans with tickets struggled to enter stadiums due to crowd management problems, leaving his own family frightened.

While praising the quality of the stadiums, Broos insisted that football needs supporters in the stands to truly come alive, remarks that have already stirred debate across Morocco as the organizing committee tightens access rules.