Marshall Munetsi has opened up about the impact of South Africa national team coach Hugo Broos’s comments ahead of their 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers Group C clash just over a week ago.
Broos had downplayed Zimbabwe’s strength, describing them as a “good opponent but not a top team.”
According to Munetsi, those remarks unsettled the Warriors’ mindset and motivated them to prove a point.
Zimbabwe went on to secure a goalless draw — a result that almost derailed Bafana Bafana’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
However, South Africa eventually managed to earn a positive result in the final round of qualifiers to seal their qualification.
Speaking on Metro FM Sports Night Amplified, as cited by Farpost.co.za, Munetsi said Broos’s comments have now set the stage for a fiery encounter when the two nations meet again at AFCON 2025.
The two teams are both in Group B alongside Angola and Egypt.
“You know, the comments that he [Hugo Broos] made about us, I think it also really touched us as players,” Munetsi said. “When he said he doesn’t really feel like Zimbabwe is a big team or that they are a threat. Obviously, we didn’t really perform well as we would want to do in the qualifiers for the World Cup.
“But for him also to make such comments. As soon as he said that, guys were calling each other and talking and saying that obviously they are a direct opponent for us in the World Cup qualifiers, but also especially at AFCON.”
Zimbabwe will face South Africa on Matchday 3 of Group B at AFCON on 29 December after taking on Egypt and Angola in their first two games.
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