South Africa head coach Hugo Broos addressed his decision to substitute midfielder Sphephelo "Yaya" Sithole at halftime during the national team's 3-2 win over Zimbabwe in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The match, which featured several key moments, saw Broos make a tactical adjustment that he later explained was driven by concerns about ball retention in midfield.
Broos stated that Sithole was "losing the ball too easily," prompting the decision to bring on Bathusi Aubaas for the second half. The change came with the score level, during a closely contested match that saw momentum swing between the two sides. Aubaas' introduction added more stability to South Africa's midfield, which helped the team maintain possession and exert more control in the latter stages of the game.
"When you're at this level of competition, especially in a high-stakes game like this, you need players who offer composure and discipline in the middle of the park," Broos said after the match. "Yaya is a talented player, but today he struggled with controlling the tempo and keeping the ball under pressure. I made the switch to give us more control, and I think Bathusi did well."
Despite Broos' critical assessment of Sithole's performance, he emphasized that the decision was tactical and not personal. The coach noted that every player must be ready to adapt and improve, especially in a tournament where margins for error are narrow.
The result puts South Africa in a stronger position in their AFCON campaign, with the attacking line delivering crucial goals. Broos praised the team effort overall but stressed the need for continued improvement.
"We got the result we needed, but we can do better. Every match is an opportunity to grow as a team," he concluded.
South Africa's next match will be closely watched to see how the midfield dynamic evolves and whether Sithole returns to the starting lineup.