The Premier League match between Burnley FC and Fulham FC took place at Turf Moor on February 03, 2024 in Burnley, England. South Africa’s national football team, Bafana Bafana, faced challenges in the absence of their star striker Lyle Foster of Burnley during the recent Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).
The team’s inability to convert excellent performances into enough goals was a cause for frustration for the South African football fraternity. Coach Broos expressed his disappointment at Foster’s decision to prioritize club commitments over national team duty.
He revealed that Foster had written to the South African Football Association (SAFA) requesting not to be included for the Afcon trip, a decision that disappointed Broos as he felt Foster’s presence would have strengthened the team. Broos also highlighted the loss of another key striker, Lebo Mothiba, due to injury, further adding to the team’s challenges.
However, he expressed confidence in young striker Evidence Makgopa’s potential. Looking ahead, Bafana Bafana’s next fixtures will be friendly matches against Andorra and Algeria in preparation for the 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers, scheduled for the end of March.
The absence of Foster and Mothiba had a significant impact on Bafana Bafana’s performance at Afcon, with Broos expressing frustration over the situation. He refrained from blaming Foster or Burnley for their decisions and chose to focus on the team’s upcoming preparations for future matches.