Despite South Africa coming up short on Friday, Mbekezeli Mbokazi stood firm at the back, dealing calmly with the threat posed by Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush. At just 20 years old, the defender showed little sign of being overawed by the occasion, producing a display that drew strong praise from head coach Hugo Broos. Mbekezeli Mbokazi may have emerged from Bafana Bafana’s 1-0 Africa Cup of Nations defeat to Egypt with his reputation enhanced, after the young defender delivered a composed performance against some of the continent’s most feared attackers.
Before the tournament, Mbokazi completed a move from Orlando Pirates to Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire — a decision that Broos openly questioned. The Belgian coach had expressed concern about the timing of the transfer, suggesting the defender might have benefitted from showcasing himself on the international stage before making such a move. IOL Sports Lunga Biyela reportedthat following the Egypt match, Broos said the performance justified his earlier concerns, while underlining just how highly he rates the player’s potential.
“There were some angry people when I said a few weeks ago that it was not the best choice for him, you saw why,” Broos said, according to iDiskiTimes. “He was my man of the match, the way that guy played.” Broos highlighted a second-half moment involving Salah as an example of Mbokazi’s quality.
