Head coach Hugo Broos has expressed his disappointment as Bafana Bafana's preparations for the crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Benin appear to have been disrupted.
Having won 2-0 against Lesotho on Friday, Bafana are aiming for maximum points once more against Benin to clear the path to the showpiece to be co-hosted by the USA, Mexico, and Canada. on Friday.
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The squad landed in Ivory Coast on Sunday but were surprised to discover that they would not be allowed to have a training session at the Stade Félix Houphouët Boigny in Abidjan, the fixture venue, on Tuesday.
"First of all, I have to tell you that I'm not satisfied with the decision that we can't have a pre-match training in the stadium where the game takes place," Broos told SAFA media.
"I think this is a FIFA rule, that every team has the right to have a preliminary training before the game of 60 minutes in the stadium where you play, where the match takes place.
"I do understand it because there is another game. But this is bad when people who make the rules don't follow the rules. Will that have an influence on the game? I don't know. But I know if tomorrow after the game I'm not at the press conference, there will be a sanction.
"We have to follow the rules. Where are the rules now? And you will tell me, yes, that's for both teams - I don't think so. I think Benin has already trained in that stadium because they were here before us.
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"So, it's all nice to say, 'Follow the rules, follow this'. We have to follow everything. But we have the right to train today in the stadium where the match takes place, and we can't. And this is not honest, and this is not correct," added the Belgian.
South Africa top of Group C with 10 points and three wins from five matches. Benin, meanwhile, are second with two victories, two draws, and a single defeat.
Kick-off is at 18:00 (SA time).