Bafana Bafana triumphed 2–1 over Angola in a closely contested clash that could have gone either way. The Palancas Negras fought valiantly, constantly testing Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, but a decisive strike from Lyle Foster proved enough to separate the sides by the final whistle.
As the Africa Cup of Nations finals gather momentum, fans now wait for a highly anticipated clash that may end up defining the fates of teams regarded as the tournament's favourites. One such game is the South Africa showdown against Egypt. Both registered wins in their opening games and will meet for their second match in Group B, a tricky clash given the result of their opening games.
South Africa started their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign with a 2-1 win over Angola on Monday. Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos still believes that his side has room for improvement.
South Africa kicked off their Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a hard‑fought 2-1 victory over the Palancas Negras in their Group B opener on Monday, December 22. The contest at Stade de Marrakech was fiercely competitive, marked by physical battles and determined challenges, as both sides sought to impose themselves and set the tone for the journey ahead in the tournament.
GOAL gives you the details to follow South Africa's Group B opener at the continental competition against the Palancas Negras at Stade de Marrakech on Monday. The 1996 African champions would be seeking to start their campaign on a high by claiming a morale-boosting victory against their COSAFA rivals. Coach Hugo and his men are on a mission to go a step further after finishing third the last time out.
South Africa coach Hugo Broos took with him to the continental tournament forwards who have not been much prolific at their clubs. But he would be hoping his team will not face some attacking frailties in Morocco which could affect their campaign. The Belgian also banks on attacking midfielders and wingers who can cause problems for opponents on their day.
Bafana's recent success has been built on the back of solid defensive performances. However, there are minor concerns about whether coach Broos has enough prolific match-winners in his squad to go all the way in Morocco.
The 73-year-old former Kaizer Chiefs tactician has raised a similar concern to what Hugo Broos highlighted as he prepares Bafana for the Africa Cup of Nations. Bafana have been training without players who are still attached to their clubs in Europe. According to Broos, it is only possible for those stars to link up with the rest a few days before the tournament begins in Morocco.
The former Orlando Pirates striker will head straight to Morocco after South Africa coach Hugo Broos indicated that his Europe-based stars will team up with the rest of his squad at the continental tournament. That rules him out of Tuesday's international friendly match against Ghana at Dobsonville Stadium. But being someone who has been in the national team setup for a while, his absence from the early stages of camp is likely not to show.
A majority of countries on the continent are unhappy that the World Football Governing Body told clubs they can keep their players for up to a week before the prestigious nations' biennial competition that will be played in Morocco. A total of 24 teams, with South Africa among them, will be battling for the bragging rights.
The forward has been finding the net with an impressive regularity recently, and his form has been picking up even though he was not named in South Africa's AFCON team. If he keeps finding the back of the net, then he will make himself hard to ignore, especially at a time when the World Cup finals lie ahead for Bafana. To do well in the global bonanza, Hugo Broos is expected to pick the best, and the forward only needs to maintain his form in Europe.
With the three stars, Broos is arguably scratching his head on who he should pick or leave for the upcoming continental finals. The coach has already admitted he is set to make a tough decision that will be painful for the players. With an ambition of doing better than last time out in Ivory Coast, the Belgian must pick the best players at his disposal in order to realise that particular dream.
The forward has been an integral part of Hugo Broos' setup and is expected to be named in the AFCON squad. He missed the last continental finals because of a mental health issue. As he hopes to be part of the team in Morocco, he has revealed ambitions he hopes to achieve with Bafana, who finished third in the Ivory Coast.
GOAL gives you the details to follow South Africa's international friendly match against Chipolopolo at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday. It is their first match since qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in October. Now, Hugo Broos would be testing his men to see if they are the right material he needs at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco.
Coach Hugo Broos is turning this team into an African powerhouse, mostly using a group of close-knit players plying their trade in the Premier Soccer League. However, the Belgian boss will need to start integrating a handful of superstars based abroad if he wants to squeeze the maximum amount of juice out of this talented, improving squad.
.jpg?quality=60&auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=400)
