- Hugo Broos hits out at VAR decisions after controversial Bafana Bafana loss to Egypt in Afcon 2025 Group B clash.
- The match took place at the Stade d’Agadir on Friday, December 26.
- Mohamed Salah scored the decisive goal from the penalty spot, while goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy delivered a series of spectacular saves in the second half.
South Africa head coach Hugo Broos did not hold back after Bafana Bafana’s narrow 1-0 defeat to Egypt in their Africa Cup of Nations Group B clash in Agadir, laying the blame squarely on what he described as poor and inconsistent officiating that ultimately decided the contest.
The decisive moment came late in the first half when Khuliso Mudau was penalised following a VAR review for an alleged handball inside the box.
The incident appeared innocuous at first glance, with Mudau having his back turned and seemingly in control of the ball before Mohamed Salah went down.
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Hugo Broos hits out at VAR decisions after controversial Bafana Bafana loss to Egypt
However, after the lengthy VAR check, the referee pointed to the spot, allowing Salah to convert calmly and hand the Pharaohs the lead and, as it turned out, the win.
Broos was visibly frustrated after the final whistle and revealed that even Egypt’s talisman was surprised by the decision.
“Even Salah said to me after the game that he was surprised it was a penalty,” Broos told journalists during his post-match press conference. The Belgian coach went further, dismissing the call in blunt terms, saying simply: “It was ridiculous.”
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While the first-half penalty grabbed headlines, Broos was equally incensed by what he felt was another major error at the other end late in the match.
Bafana pushed hard for an equaliser, especially after Egypt were reduced to ten men following the dismissal of Mohamed Namy.
A potential handball by Yasser Ahmed inside the Egyptian box sparked a nine-minute VAR review, but officials eventually ruled that the ball had struck Ahmed’s supporting arm and therefore did not warrant a penalty.
Broos questioned the interpretation and consistency of the laws. “In the (pre-tournament) meeting they said if the arm is extended away from the body, it is a penalty,” he explained. “Then they said it was his supporting arm. Who invented this supporting arm? His arm was extended and it hit his arm.”
The Bafana coach used the incident to highlight what he believes is a broader problem with modern officiating.
“For 45 minutes they explain the rules, there are 25 to 50 rules. It is a penalty, then it is not a penalty. It is a red card for a player and then it is not. By the end there are so many rules no one knows what to do,” Broos lamented.
Despite his anger, Broos was fair in his assessment of the match itself. He admitted Egypt were the better side before the break.
“In the first half Egypt were the better team, they had better circulation of the ball,” he said.
However, he felt the balance of play shifted dramatically after halftime.
“In the second half, ok they were one man less, but we dominated them for 45 minutes. In a moment you just need a bit of luck… We didn’t have that luck.”
Broos struck a defiant tone in closing, insisting the defeat could yet serve as fuel for Bafana’s campaign.
“We lost today, but it is still only one game. What happened on the pitch today will certainly motivate us to give 200 percent when we play Zimbabwe on Monday.”
With Bafana currently second in Group B, three points behind Egypt, the focus now shifts to finishing the group strongly and will be hoping to get maximum points against Zimbabwe in their final group stage match though the controversy in Agadir is unlikely to fade anytime soon.