Siyanda Xulu will be proud of South Africa’s “dream” Africa Cup of Nations campaign no matter what happens in their third-place showdown with DR Congo.
Bafana Bafana will go head-to-head with the Leopards in Abidjan on Saturday evening with a bronze medal at stake, disappointed not to have made it to the final but happy to have come so close.
Hugo Broos’ men made it to within touching distance of the showcase game on Wednesday evening before eventually going down 4-2 on penalties to Nigeria after a 1-1 extra-time draw in the last four.
Defender Xulu told a press conference: “We had our own goal as a team. We wanted to go as far as we could.
“We know very well of our quality and especially from the coach who is one person who has always believed in us as a team.
“To go this far was our objective. Reaching the semi-final is a dream. Yes, we wanted to take it home, but we couldn’t, but we can be proud of the performance.”
South Africa’s campaign started in unpromising fashion when they went down 2-0 to Mali in their opening game, but they emerged from Group E as runners-up and dispensed with World Cup semi-finalists Morocco and Cape Verde before meeting their match in Nigeria.
Broos admitted the game would represent a mental battle for both teams.
He said: “We played a very good game against Nigeria. It was a great performance and we showed that we are a great team again.
“When you exit after 120 minutes, it’s always a huge disappointment. When you play so well, the disappointment is so big.
“The game tomorrow is special. It depends a bit on which team will be mentally recovered because also for DRC, it was difficult to lose like that.”
DR Congo’s chances of making it to the final were ended by a 1-0 defeat by hosts Ivory Coast, and they will head into the play-off having won only one of the six games they have played to date inside 90 minutes after drawing all three of their Group F Fixtures and beating Egypt on penalties in the last 16.
Defender Dylan Batubinsika said: “We have a mixture of feelings with the elimination, but our ambition is to go and get this medal.
“We have to stay mobilised to at least finish in third place.”
NB: Catch the exciting third-place playoff between South Africa and DR Congo on Sportsmax and the Sportsmax app.
Nashville SC v San Jose Earthquakes: ‘A win would change everything’ - Godoy
Anibal Godoy insists that Nashville are already looking at their game against San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday as a must-win.
Nashville have won just once in the MLS this season and sit in 14th place in the Eastern Conference after a run of four without a win.
The Earthquakes, meanwhile, are bottom of the Western Conference having lost eight of their matches and recording just one win.
Godoy is aware of how their poor start to the season could affect their playoff hopes later down the line but is confident that Nashville can turn things around.
He said: “For us, it's an important week. It's a day we have to win, or we'll start to feel the pressure from other teams as they start to separate in the table.
“This league is long but if we want to get to the playoff you have to win games early on, especially at home.”
Liverpool agree compensation deal for Slot
Liverpool and Feyenoord have reached an agreement in principle over a compensation deal for Arne Slot to become the Reds’ manager next season, according to widespread Dutch media reports.
The Dutchman is reportedly poised to take over from Jurgen Klopp, who announced in January that he would be leaving the club at the end of the campaign.
Slot led Feyenoord to their second Eredivisie title last season after taking over the club in 2021.
It is believed that he topped the list of Liverpool’s favoured candidates due to his attacking playing style and ability to develop players.
Former Liverpool midfielder, Xabi Alonso, who led Bayer Leverkusen to their first Bundesliga title, and Sporting CP’s Ruben Amorim were also reported contenders to take over from Klopp.
Slot had already confirmed his interest in managing in the Premier League, both earlier this week and previously when he was linked to Tottenham in 2023.
QPR 4-0 Leeds United: Shock loss for Farke's men seals Leicester's promotion
QPR thrashed Leeds United 4-0 in the Championship on Friday, ensuring Leicester City booked their promotion straight back to the Premier League.
Ilias Chair was the star for the Hoops as he scored the opener and assisted two more goals to ensure QPR will stay in the Championship for another season.
Lucas Andersen, Lyndon Dykes and Sam Field also got their names on the scoresheet in an emphatic win for Marti Cifuentes' side.
Leeds' heaviest defeat of the season was a huge blow in the race for an automatic promotion spot, with Ipswich Town just one point behind them in third place with two games in hand going into their away clash against Hull City on Saturday.
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
