The statements made today by the Belgian coach of the South African national team, Hugo Broos, during the press conference, caused a state of astonishment among followers, after he confirmed that he does not feel the atmosphere of the African Cup of Nations held in Morocco as he was accustomed to in previous versions.
During the conference, Broos explained that the atmosphere surrounding the tournament, from his point of view, does not reflect the traditional character of the "CAN," pointing to the absence of some aspects that he considered part of the identity of the competition, including the lack of fans accompanying the players' buses or following the movements of the national teams outside the stadiums. These statements, which came at a sensitive time in the competition, raise more than one question mark, especially since the current edition of the African Cup of Nations is being held in modern stadiums and advanced infrastructure, and the organization has been praised by a number of participating teams and officials of the Confederation of African Football. From a Moroccan perspective, it seems strange to link the atmosphere of the tournament to elements outside the green rectangle, at a time when modern organizational and security standards have imposed different methods from those that prevailed in previous sessions, without affecting the value of the competition or the enthusiasm of the fans inside the stadiums. Observers believe that focusing on these aspects may take the discussion away from the technical aspects, especially after the unconvincing performance of the South African national team in some of its matches, where questions were raised about the coach's tactical choices more than the conditions of the tournament itself. While waiting for the results of the remaining matches of the South African national team, the African Cup of Nations in Morocco continues its proceedings amid professional organization, while the performance inside the stadium remains the main factor in evaluating the course of the national teams, apart from the different points of view regarding the atmosphere of the competition.
