Tempers flared on the pitch all through the 97 minutes of the intense showdown between the Super Eagles and Bafana Bafana at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein yesterday, Soccernet.ng reports.
However, some actions were reserved for the technical crew of both teams as they were involved in a heated confrontation which called for the referee's involvement, alongside the fourth official.
At some point, Nigeria's goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali, came off his line to calm things down on the touchline. The scuffle went on for about ten minutes, but seven minutes were added on by the referee at the end of the 90.
Why Chelle bashed South Africa‘s technical crew
Bafana Bafana's clash against Nigeria yesterday was the most-anticipated game in Group C, considering the high stakes involved.
Chelle maintains that emotions are a part of football, stating there were no malicious intentions from either side, as each team simply wanted to win.
“Once again, this is a big game, so there is some stress; there is some tension,” Chelle said after the game, in quotes revealed by Goal.
“So, sometimes you can say something badly, and sometimes you need to fight, not against the real fight, but you need to manage it, and sometimes it’s difficult because of the pressure,” he added.
“This is the football. This is normal when the two teams, when the two benches, want to win, and you know it was at every decision about the referee; one of the bench does not agree with that, so this is the football.”
“For a big game like that, because of the game and because everyone in South Africa is against Nigeria. So, this is normal for me. We’re focused on the game, and we try to win.
“The two teams try to win, so I have no problem with that,” the 47-year-old concluded.
“Those are the emotions of the game, and sometimes when I see pictures of what I do on the pitch, I tell myself, ‘come on don't do that'.
“You're nervous, you're tense. I think we got three yellow cards and the Nigerians got one. That is not normal, I'm very sorry,” the Belgian tactician apologized.
“So, I was angry, and the Nigerian players went to the referee and I reacted with a gesture with my hands. I don't have to do that but then what?
“I want to win, I want to go to America, next year,” Hugo Broos concluded.
