Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi has urged South Africa head coach Hugo Broos to revert to the country’s traditional style of football as Bafana Bafana prepare for their crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup Group A clash against the Czech Republic. The recommendation came after South Africa suffered a 2-0 defeat to Mexico in their opening match of the tournament, leaving them at the bottom of the group. Akpeyi, speaking during his post-match analysis on SuperSport and monitored by allnigeriasoccer.com, emphasized the need for tactical adjustments to reflect South Africa’s footballing identity.
Akpeyi acknowledged that Broos has built a youthful squad, which is a positive step for long-term development. However, he criticized the team’s overly cautious approach in the match against Mexico, which led to defensive vulnerabilities and ultimately, red cards. “With the tactical approach of the coach, he didn’t want to lose and concede that much,” Akpeyi noted. “But unfortunately, it turns out to be a situation where the team has to concede with a lot of red cards.” This defensive mindset, according to Akpeyi, backfired and exposed the team’s lack of composure under pressure.
The retired Nigeria international believes South Africa must embrace a more attacking and confident style that aligns with their footballing culture. “Now, it is to go back to the drawing board and see if we can play South African football against Czech to see how far that the team can be able to go,” he said. He stressed that playing with pride and identity could help restore confidence and improve performance in the remaining group games.
Akpeyi also highlighted the importance of securing at least a point or a win against the Czech Republic to keep South Africa’s hopes of advancing alive. He warned against tarnishing the legacy of the 2010 World Cup, when South Africa hosted the tournament and earned a memorable draw against Mexico. “Because, like this, you don’t want to spoil the record that you have made earlier on in 2010 against Mexico and you just want to leave the tournament like this,” he added. “So, you want to try as much as possible to at least get a result with Czech to help give you confidence and see if you can sustain the group.”
With South Korea also awaiting in the final group stage match, Bafana Bafana must deliver strong performances to have any chance of progressing to the knockout rounds. Akpeyi’s advice underscores the growing expectation for South Africa to adapt quickly and play with more purpose and flair. As the team faces a critical juncture in the tournament, the call to return to their roots may be the key to turning their campaign around.
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