Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos admits the clash against Benin was not easy but says getting three points was important.
Bafana opened their Group C campaign with a 2-1 win over Benin and topped the group courtesy of goals by Percy Tau and Khuliso Mudau.
Steve Mounie made the game tense in the closing stages after he pulled a goal back for the Cheetahs with 20 minutes to go, and Broos says they did not have it easy with Benin threatening via long balls.
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"Sure I'm happy because we won the game, it was not an easy game. I said already before the game, 'Don't underestimate the opponent'. They played a simple game, kick upfront and then fight for the (second) ball," Broos told SABC Sport TV.
"We had some problems in the second-half with the goal they scored, there was a little panic in the group but okay the most important thing in the qualifiers is to win the game and we did it.
Bafana had a few chances to kill off the game before Benin got a goal back and the Belgian says they don't have to worry about that, as the most important thing was to get the three points.
"The game that Benin played is very difficult, they kicked the ball all the time to a long player with the header and then the second ball, this is difficult to defend," he went on.
"But okay they had only that one chance and it was a goal (and) at the other side we had two little chances, so we could have scored the third goal then the game was finished but with that goal from Benin towards the end it was suspense," he added.
Bafana will travel to Rwanda ahead of their second group game on Tuesday afternoon.
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