With the transfer market taking centre stage regarding players’ futures, the midfielder has admitted his interest in returning to the Premier Soccer League. The experienced player is hoping for “an opportunity somewhere else” after South Africa’s campaign in the African Cup of Nations. He also admitted that he would love to play for Amakhosi.
South Africa remains on course to lift the continental title as they prepare for a more demanding last-16 clash against the Indomitable Lions at Al Medina Stadium on Sunday. It is a big test for Hugo Broos’ side, with their title credentials set to be put through the sternest of examinations against the seasoned Cameroonians. A positive result would further underline South Africa’s growing belief that they can go all the way and win Afcon for the first time since 1996.
South Africa discovered their opponents following the last round of group stage matches on Wednesday. The 1996 African champions will battle it out with the Indomitable Lions this weekend, with a spot in the quarter-finals at stake.
It has been a memorable year in South African football, marked by plenty of excitement and several major achievements. Bafana Bafana qualified for both the Africa Cup of Nations and the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The junior national teams played in major international tournaments and flew the country’s flag high.
The Burnley star has been on the receiving end of criticism, especially when Bafana struggles. However, he has been quite influential in the ongoing finals, as he has scored twice and provided an assist. To become even better, Broos has suggested what his teammates must do to help the centre-forward become even more lethal.
The South African side edged past Zimbabwe at the Stade de Marrakech on Monday evening in an enthralling five-goal encounter. Despite the Belgian's men emerging victorious and bringing the Warriors’ Africa Cup of Nations campaign to an end, a lack of consistency remained evident in the Mzansi outfit’s performance.
With South Africa up for what is a do-or-die clash against Zimbabwe, Broos has revealed the chances of two stars in the squad playing are incredibly limited. South Africa need at least a draw in order to keep their AFCON dream alive, and that means the usual tried and tested will likely get deployed. With eyes keen to see who Broos will line up for the Warriors game, the Belgian has already pointed out the players that are unlikely to play.
The Buccaneers playmaker arrived in Morocco with expectations high on him to step in for Themba Zwane who did not make it to the continental football showpiece. But he is yet to reproduce the form that earned him a place in the national team squad doing duty in North Africa. This comes after the coach’s attempts to identify Zwane’s replacement in Patrick Maswanganyi have so far failed.
The regional rivals are clashing in a high-stakes encounter, each hoping to win and seal a place in the Round of 16. The stakes are even higher for the Warriors, as they need a straight victory to reach the knockout stage, while for Bafana, at least a draw will be enough for them to progress. With just a point needed for the 1996 Champions, coach Hugo Broos is confident his charges will get the job done despite the pressure on their shoulders.
South Africa head into their final Group B match of the 2025 AFCON against Zimbabwe, desperate for a result to seal their passage to the knockout stages.
The crucial match between the two Southern African countries will take place on Monday evening in Marrakesh, with Broos' men needing a draw to qualify for the next round.
Months after clashing in a 2026 World Cup qualifier, Bafana and the Warriors are set to face off in another crucial duel. Each need points and should win their last AFCON group match when they will meet on Monday. This game is made even more spicy because the nations are neighbours and rivals in the regional competition, COSAFA, but this time around they clash on a bigger platform and in a game that carries a lot of continental stakes.
In a thrilling encounter between Egypt and South Africa on Friday, drama unfolded as several decisions by the officials drew scrutiny, with one in particular standing out—a penalty that secured the Pharaohs’ 1-0 victory and left the Belgian coach feeling aggrieved.
The Bafana coach has stressed that the young defender is already ripe to test himself in a well-established and developed competition like the leagues in Europe. The experienced tactician was not particularly impressed when the defender completed a move to Major League Soccer just before the AFCON finals began. Giving an example of how Mbokazi played against the Pharaohs, the Belgian insisted his defender needs better competition.
The South African side will be on high alert as they look to fix the lapses that cost them in their last outing, turning their attention to the Warriors on Monday—a side that has repeatedly shown they are tough to break down and never shied away from testing Bafana's resolve in past encounters.
Opinions from prominent football figures continue to pour in following South Africa’s controversial loss to Egypt, a match overshadowed by some contentious decisions in Agadir. Refereeing calls and the inconsistent use of VAR at the tournament remain the dominant talking points, drawing stern scrutiny.
The contest between South Africa and the Pharaohs was marred by controversy, with the 1996 African champions dominating large spells of the match. However, despite control from Hugo Broos' men, it was the North Africans who emerged with three points as they claimed a 1-0 win.
