The senior national team played in the 1998, 2002, and 2010 global competitions but failed to get past the initial hurdle. A majority of the supporters in the country believe that could change in the 2026 edition to be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada after Friday's draw that saw Mzansi being placed in what they feel is a manageable group.
Amakhosi wrapped up a spirited outing in the United Kingdom on Saturday, December 6, having faced Manchester United, Leeds United and QPR. The young guns seized the chance to test themselves against overseas opposition, showing grit and hunger while soaking up valuable lessons. A tour that toughened their resolve and showed they can rise to grander occasions.
South Africa will open the prestigious global competition against the co-hosts, hoping to start on a high note to stand a chance of advancing to the knockout phase for the first time in their history. However, they will definitely not find it easy coming up against a team supported by thousands of home fans.
With the Premier Soccer League campaign taking shape, the title favourites can now be deduced based on how teams have fared so far. Usual competitors, the Sea Robbers and the Brazilians, are the leading contenders, pointing to another possibility that there will be a tight run between them again.
The Premier Soccer League giants are set to sharpen themselves with opponents outside the country as the season takes a break. The league will go into a break to allow players to represent their respective countries in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals in Morocco. Five of the Masandawana stars will be part of Hugo Broos' team, but the rest will not have as much rest, as they are scheduled to participate in the tournament.
The 61-year-old celebrated South African tactician believes Hugo Broos' men have enough quality to ensure they don't fall in the initial phase of the prestigious global competition that will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The senior national team has, in the past, not made the knockout stage.
South Africa are set for the tournament, where they have been placed in Group A alongside the co-hosts, hoping to get the needed result that will see them get into the knockout phase. The country has never made it past the initial phase in the competition, and this will be a massive chance for them to show the world what they are made of.
The tacticians have been in charge of Amakhosi since Nasreddine Nabi left just as the season began. Both coaches were assistants to Nabi but were left untouched when the Soweto giants parted ways with the Nedbank Cup-winning Tunisian. Although they have led Chiefs to a historical milestone in the CAF Confederation Cup, their reign has been described as a disaster in waiting for the club.
The defending Premier Soccer League champions, Masandawana, are getting stiff competition from the Soweto giants, the Buccaneers, who have been consistent in their bid to win the South African top-flight football. The Brazilians have been dominating the top tier for almost a decade, where they have been crowned nine times.
The South African national team is just a few days away from departing for Morocco, where they will continue their preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations, kicking off on December 21. For a certain PSL right-back, who has earned a place in Hugo Broos’ 25-man squad, a new chapter begins. He will be aiming to see his career reach new heights while gaining valuable experience on the continental stage.
The Soweto giants square off against Bahlabane ba Ntwa in the Carling Knockout final at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday, aiming to end the season on a high after also being guaranteed to end the year as Premier Soccer League leaders. Having already lifted the MTN8 in October, the Buccaneers are chasing a second major trophy this term as they seek to continue as domestic football's Cup Kings.
South Africa find themselves in seemingly challenging Group B at the continental tournament alongside Egypt, Angola and Zimbabwe. Navigating through this pool will be crucial if they are to reach the knockout rounds. They are determined to improve on their previous campaign, where they secured a bronze medal. However, doubts have surfaced after an experienced coach questioned the squad selected by the Belgian tactician. That scrutiny has added extra pressure on the team to prove their capabilities on the big stage.
As we reach the halfway mark of another PSL season, old failings are emerging for the Glamour Boys as they struggle to find cohesion in the final third. Is this a recruitment problem, a tactical issue or perhaps a complex combination of both?
The Glamour Boys have had a strong run this season across all competitions after the signings they made at the end of the 2024/25 campaign. A win against TS Galaxy on Sunday will see them end the year with just two points behind leaders and traditional rivals Orlando Pirates, who have been doing quite well under Abdeslam Ouaddou. But a disappointing draw with Chippa has deflated fan expectations.
The Glamour Boys faced the Chilli Boys, hoping to get maximum points at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday night. However, it turned out to be a tough assignment against the relegation-threatened hosts who were not in the mood to lose. Amakhosi have now lost ground in their bid to win the title in the ongoing campaign.
The Premier Soccer League campaign is taking shape, and before the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals break, the favourites to win the race have been picked out. A PSL winner has tipped his former side as one of those with a high probability of conquering the league. However, the Soweto giants, despite their promising run so far, have been ruled out.
The Glamour Boys have been struggling to get it right when it comes to upgrading the squad and making it more consistent in competitions domestically and abroad. In the recent Premier Soccer League winter transfer window, they signed 11 players, a mixture of experience and youth, to push the Soweto giants to the summit of Mzansi football.
The Brazilians once again dropped points in the South African top-flight football in the midweek assignment that has guaranteed Orlando Pirates the top spot until the league resumes in January. The defending champions had to do without a key player in the last 10 minutes following the sending-off of Teboho Mokoena.
Amakhosi endured a frustrating evening as they were held to a goalless stalemate by bottom‑placed Chippa United at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on Wednesday, December 3. Chiefs controlled large spells of possession and carved out chances but failed to convert, leaving them to settle for a single point in their Premier Soccer League away fixture.
The majority of the teams are working hard to realise their objectives, with the Premier Soccer League table taking shape ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) break scheduled from late December to mid-January next year. One of the sides that have been doing well are Babina Noko, who are surprising many with their run in the league.
The Glamour Boys made the trip to Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on Wednesday, December 3, locking horns with the struggling Chilli Boys in a crucial league clash. Having last featured in PSL action before the international break, Chiefs returned to domestic duty after balancing the demands of their ongoing CAF Confederation Cup campaign.
The Buccaneers coach has applauded his players for dominating the South Africa final squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations tournament. The Soweto giants have provided nine players to Hugo Broos' 25-member selection that will head to the continental competition. This sees The Ghost taking over from the Brazilians who used to dominate the national side at the last edition.
GOAL gives you the details to follow Amakhosi's Premier Soccer League trip to Gqeberha to face the Chilli Boys on Wednesday. Currently fifth on the table, the Soweto giants still have the chance to finish the year at the top of the table if they win their last two PSL games, but that is also dependent on how their nearest rivals perform. They come up against the relegation-haunted Chilli Boys, who are at the foot of the standings.
The towering centre forward stamped his authority in a nationwide tournament. The Urban Warriors product has given a glimpse of what he could offer the Tshwane giants. Meanwhile, Bucs are close to reinforcing their squad with the signing of a talented defender after losing Mbokazi.
The Glamour Boys have been away from domestic action for the last two weeks, doing battle in continental football, where they had little success. Chiefs only managed a solitary point from a possible six in their two CAF Confederations Cup matches against Egyptian opponents.
Kaizer Chiefs
