Broos Continues Controversy: "45 Minutes from Hotel to Training Ground Doesn't Make Me Happy"
Belgium's Hugo Broos, head coach of the South African national team, continued to stir controversy during the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 in Morocco with his persistent criticism of the organizational conditions. His latest comments came ahead of the highly anticipated Round of 16 clash against Cameroon, scheduled for Sunday.
During the pre-match press conference, Broos expressed his dissatisfaction with the travel conditions for his team's delegation between their accommodation and the training ground, stating that it negatively affects player concentration.
Broos said, "It takes us about 45 minutes to get from our accommodation to the training ground, and this is something that doesn't make me happy at all."
He added, "In a tournament the size of the Africa Cup of Nations, travel time should not exceed 15 or 20 minutes at most, especially since we might face Morocco in the next round if we manage to qualify."
The South Africa coach had previously directed sharp criticism towards the organization of fan entry following his team's match against Egypt at the Grand Agadir Stadium, which ended in a 1-0 victory for the Pharaohs in the second round of the group stage.
In this context, Broos stated after that encounter, "The organization of fan entry during the South Africa-Egypt match was not good at all. My family was at the stadium, and we witnessed great chaos before the match began."
He further elaborated on what happened outside the stadium, saying, "Initially, no one was allowed into Adrar Stadium, and the police were responsible for this. Everyone was denied entry, even those holding official tickets, while people without tickets were allowed in due to the large crowds."
The Belgian coach also touched upon the general atmosphere surrounding the tournament, asserting that his experience in previous editions differs from what he is currently experiencing in Morocco. He said, "My wife felt very scared, especially since my grandchildren were also present. The special atmosphere we are accustomed to at the Africa Cup of Nations is not present in Morocco."
He continued, comparing this edition to previous ones, "I don't feel the same atmosphere I experienced previously in Ivory Coast or Gabon. There, you felt every moment that you were participating in a major continental event. When we traveled by bus to the training ground, people would wave flags and welcome us, but here in Morocco, we see none of that."
Despite his criticisms, Broos was keen to praise the infrastructure, stating that the issue is not with the stadiums or facilities, but rather with fan interaction. He explained, "Everything in terms of stadiums and facilities is good, but if fans are not allowed free entry into the stadiums, no one will come. Therefore, I don't feel there is real interaction from the people with the tournament."
