Gernot Rohr has admitted it will be a big challenge to go past Algeria, who he considers the best of the 2019 AFCON, should they clash in Sunday’s semifinals.
“Algeria are the best team of the tournament so far and it will be a big challenge to beat them,” Rohr said looking forward to the semifinals.
“We will now watch the Algeria match.”
However, Algeria will have to first beat Cote d’Ivoire this evening to set up the clash with the Eagles.
Rohr also said South Africa stretched his team who in the end were lucky to win to reach the last four for the 15th time in their history.
Bafana Bafana pegged back Nigeria with a goal adjudged by VAR in the second half and the contest looked like heading into extra-time before William Ekong helped home a corner for the winner a minute from time.
“We won, but it was not easy,” he said.
“We could have won the game in the first half, but in the end were lucky.”
He revealed that he took off captain Ahmed Musa 10 minutes from time so as to avoid the forward from being suspended for the semifinals as he was already on a booking.
He commended the spirit in the team for how far they have progressed in Egypt.
“There is a good spirit in the team and we have worked hard for the past six weeks,” he said.
“We had a nice time in Alexandria, where the tough games there prepared us well.”
