South Africa’s sports minister, Gayton Mckenzie, has expressed his dismay at recent comments by Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos about the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.

Broos raised eyebrows when he said he was not feeling the “vibe” in the North African state, as compared to previous tournaments.

“I don’t feel the same vibe compared to what I felt in Gabon or the Ivory Coast,” said Broos.

McKenzie has fired back at Broos, accusing the latter of disrespecting the hosts.

“You don’t go to a person’s country and insult them in their own country. Nobody should do that; it’s wrong,” stated McKenzie.

“He (Broos) is in hotels. How does he see the vibe outside? We were on the streets, and we saw the vibes. I want to apologize to the Moroccans about what he said.”

He added, “Ja, there was a vibe. I was very annoyed with the coach of Bafana Bafana. I’m going to be straight with you. I was highly annoyed you don’t do that.”

Mckenzie, however, has backed Broos to keep his job despite Bafana Bafana’s round of 16 elimination from the tournament, after a 2-1 defeat to Cameroon.

“Hugo Broos is going nowhere, and I want to make that clear. Hugo Broos is going absolutely nowhere. Hugo Broos is going to Mexico (for the World Cup, with Bafana).”

“That’s where Hugo Broos is going; we can’t have this mentality where people must just be going, going, going.”

“How do you blame Hugo Broos if players don’t score? How do you blame the coach? We all watched the game (against Cameroon).  So I want to make all of that very clear. I hear voices saying, ‘No, Hugo Broos must be fired’. Fired for whom and for what? We are going to the World Cup.”

The global showpiece kicks off in six months’ time in North America.