When Broos named his final squad for the AFCON finals, there was not much surprise because he maintained the core players who have always dominated his teams. Amakhosi stars were once again snubbed, although Mduduzi Shabalala was named among the reserve players. In recent times, Orlando Pirates have been contributing a huge chunk of players to the national side, a privilege enjoyed by Mamelodi Sundowns before.
After a long wait, the Belgian has now named the players he will take to Morocco in the hunt for yet another continental trophy for South Africa. As usual, his selection has divided opinion as fans and pundits debate who should be in the squad and who should not be. The former Cameroon head coach has now explained why he selected two skillful attackers.
After finishing third at the last edition of the continental competition, South Africa will be looking to do better. Their Belgian coach has named a squad that will do duty in Morocco and there are a few surprises. This squad is also expected to form the core of Hugo Broos' side to go to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Sea Robbers were once again lethal as they managed a Premier Soccer League win over Durban City on Saturday at Moses Mabhida Stadium. Meanwhile, there was a palpable sigh of relief for Pirates fans who saw Mbekezile Mbokazi back into the starting line-up again. For a week now, the centre-back has been a subject of intense debate, as reports had indicated he was closer to the exit door, reportedly on his way to Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer.
The former Mamelodi Sundowns coach was full of praise for the current state of South Africa’s displays on the bigger stages. Bafana Bafana recently reaped the rewards of their hard work by qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and will next month take the stage at the Africa Cup of Nations. Meanwhile, Amajimbos bowed out of the FIFA U-17 World Cup earlier this month, and the senior women’s national team is busy preparing for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations [WAFCON].
A section of the fans and football stakeholders in Mzansi have not been too happy with the 73-year-old Belgian, who, recently, named his 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) provisional squad, insisting there are players who should have made the team but were overlooked. The former international argues the tactician knows what he wants for his team.
The Premier Soccer League table is taking shape with a third of the matches already played, as players continue to give their best, hoping to help their respective teams realise their objectives in the South African top tier. A few individuals have made their cases after switching clubs and are already being named for possible rewards at the end of the ongoing campaign.
There was an element of surprise again when the Moroccan tactician opted to bench the Bafana forward who has been a key player for his team. The 24-year-old came on in the second half and played a crucial role in Bucs' 2-0 victory against struggling Chippa United. Ouaddou was put to task to explain why the new signing did not start, and he defended his selection, saying every player on his team needs to be given playing and rest time.
The 20-year-old youngster had been tipped to leave the Buccaneers for an overseas club after his showings in the Premier Soccer League and international outings with Bafana. However, when news broke this week of a potential move being lined up with a North American club, the centre-back found himself at the centre of feverish speculation over whether the move was suitable for his career aspirations.
The versatile South Africa international has been a key player for the Sea Robbers, who are seemingly ready to dominate the local footballing scene, thanks to the inconsistencies by Mamelodi Sundowns, who have won the last eight Premier Soccer League titles. The Buccaneers are currently joint top in the logdespite playing a game less.
South Africa are among the nine teams from the African continent that secured an automatic ticket for the prestigious global competition that will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Hugo Broos' men topped Group C of the qualifiers ahead of Nigeria and Benin to qualify for the tournament that they last participated in way back in 2010 as hosts.
Anticipation is high as the Belgian coach edges closer to announcing his final squad for the continental competition. His provisional list has already offered a glimpse of what the final group could look like, sparking debate about the positions still up for grabs. Notably, four Amakhosi players have been included, and all eyes will be on whether they survive the final cut after the Soweto giants failed to contribute a single Bafana Bafana player at the last AFCON edition.
The Buccaneers were in action for the first time since news tipping Mbokazi to join Chicago Fire broke over the weekend. The 20-year-old has been one of the top performers not only for Bucs, but South Africa in 2025. His exploits for both club and country have not gone unnoticed, as there is reported interest in his services from abroad, but how close is the young man nicknamed 'TLB' to leaving Pirates?
The 1996 AFCON winner is one of the coaches highly tipped to become the next head coach post-Hugo Broos era. The Belgian has stated more than once that the Bafana Bafana coaching role will be his last, as he intends to retire after the 2026 World Cup finals. The tactician has decided to undergo the requisite training that will prepare him for a higher coaching position.
The Bafana Bafana star has been tipped to leave the Premier Soccer League for a new challenge in Major League Soccer. The timing of his reported move has been questioned, with some saying it is too early, while others say he is ripe for a new environment. Mbokazi has experienced a sensational rise within the Bucs setup, and this propelled him to the national stage, where he has been impressive as well.
The Amakhosi star is among the four players from the club who have been included in the provisional Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals squad. What now remains is to see how many will be included in the final team that will head to Morocco for the continental tournament. Broos has always snubbed players from Naturena, and he previously defended his position, citing the club's poor performance.
The forward struggled while in Germany but has found his footing since he made the unexpected move after several stints abroad. He is not only a regular starter under Miguel Cardoso but also plays a critical role as a creative brain in the club's attacking adventures. Now, he has been tipped as the next big thing for Bafana Bafana, given the progress he has made.
South Africa are set for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations that will take centre stage on the continent from December 21 to January 18 in Morocco. Mzansi tactician named his initial 55-man provisional squad on Monday, which will be trimmed to 23 early next month, who will represent the nation. Some call-ups, however, have raised eyebrows.
South Africa have started preparations for the biennial competition to be played in Morocco from late December, where they hope to go all the way. They are played in Group B alongside record champions Egypt as well as COSAFA duo Zimbabwe and Angola. The top two teams will get an automatic ticket for the knockout phase.
Despite being snubbed by the national team head coach, the former Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns player continues to prove his worth for the Moroccan giants. The Mzansi star played a crucial role as Wydad Casablanca managed a 3-0 win over Kenya's Nairobi United on Sunday at Laribi Zaouli Stadium. The win propelled the Moroccan heavyweights to the top of the table, while Nairobi United, who made it to the group stage in their debut season, are at the bottom.
As South Africans slowly come to terms with the expected exit of Broos next year, several native tacticians have been touted as his best successors. The Belgian tactician has had a rather successful stint with Bafana, and that means anyone who will come in after him will be expected to be as good or even far better. Broos has a chance of making his time with Bafana even a more successful story – that is, if he does well in the AFCON and the World Cup finals.
The Mzansi star was on the scoresheet as the Saudi Arabian club returned to winning ways after a rather long period of a winless run. Their last win was on October 18 and since then, they have lost three games and drawn in another. The goal is a morale boost for the former Sekhukhune United winger who moved to the Middle East on a loan move.
The Bafana full-back has struggled to break into Masandawana's first team despite the ambitious move he made before the season began. At Chloorkop, Basadien is facing stiff competition from Zimbabwean star Divine Lunga and Aubrey Modiba. His situation at the Pretoria giants has complicated his chances of making it into the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) squad.
The defending Premier Soccer League champions are known for their untamed appetite for good and quality players to continue challenging for top honours domestically and abroad. They have recently been linked to the Bafana Bafana centre-back, who has been growing from strength to strength since leaving the Glamour Boys.
The 25-year-old defender made a surprising switch from arch-rivals Orlando Pirates earlier in the season, but his journey at Kaizer Chiefs has been overshadowed by recurring injury setbacks. Despite this, his quality is evident whenever he steps onto the pitch. Monyane remains hopeful that he will eventually earn another opportunity to don the South African jersey and compete for his rightful place in the Bafana setup.
The South Africa international has been on a steady rise to the top since the Spaniard gave him his debut in the top-tier game barely a year ago. After one season in the Premier Soccer League, the 21-year-old had done enough to attract suitors from abroad who hastened to seal a deal with the pacy, versatile attacker.
Angola
