South Africa is among the 16 teams that made it out of the initial group stage after finishing second in their pool, which had the seven-time champions Egypt who eventually topped it, alongside COSAFA duo Zimbabwe and Angola, who were eliminated. Former Buccaneers tactician hopes to see his country in the final but has branded another team as the 'most dangerous.'
The Africa Cup of Nations has reached a critical juncture where there are no second chances. Given that South Africa struggled against 10-man Egypt and were given a run for their money by Zimbabwe, there are suggestions that it is time for Hugo Broos to tweak his lineups. But can the Belgian tactician afford to massively tweak his lineup when South Africa need to win to remain competing in Morocco?
Bafana Bafana continue with their bid to be crowned African champions with a Last-16 showdown against Cameroon at Al Medina Stadium on Sunday. After a less convincing outing against Zimbabwe in their last Group game, they will be out to show that they are championship material.
The 73-year-old will be coming up against his former team this weekend in the Last 16 of the biennial competition, hoping to get into the last eight and eventually go all the way to win their second continental crown. The initial one came in 1996 when South Africa were hosts. In 2023, the Belgian led Bafana to a bronze.
The 25-year-old former AmaZulu player has been doing well for South Africa in the biennial competition, having made two direct contributions to the five goals Hugo Broos' men scored in Group B to finish second with six points behind seven-time champions Egypt. The winger is expected to play a crucial role in the knockout phase.
Recently, the AFCON organisers released the list of the players who they feel performed better in the initial stage of the biennial competition. No player from South Africa made the squad despite some strong showings from a couple of them, like the Burnley FC star Lyle Foster, as well as the Mamelodi Sundowns defender Khuliso Mudau.
The Sea Robbers, under coach Abdeslam Ouaddou, have been exceptional in the domestic competitions this season, where they have already won two titles. The Buccaneers are also targeting the South African top-flight crown they last won more than a decade ago, but will have to do it without one of their key players.
The 20-year-old made a surprising move to Major League Soccer, where he joined the Chicago Fire, who showed interest after the youngster's consistent displays for the Sea Robbers. There have been contradicting reactions to the youngster's decision to join the latter from the Premier Soccer League; a section has been supporting while others feel otherwise.
The 1996 winners finished second in Group B, which had the seven-time champions alongside COSAFA duo Angola and Zimbabwe. South Africa were not convincing despite having fielded a team with players who have been playing together for a long time under coach Hugo Broos. Ahead of the Round of 16, the organisers have revealed a list of those who impressed in the initial phase.
South Africa face the Indomitable Lions in a 2025 AFCON Round of 16 match at Al Medina Stadium on Sunday. It is a match both sides know that there is a high possibility the winner will face hosts Morocco in the quarter-finals. Fans have reacted with much interest in this pairing between Hugo Broos' side and the Central Africans.
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.
The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) group stages ended on a high note with heavyweights taking the centre stage in the North African country of Morocco. In the four games that were played, 14 goals were scored, with the defending champions, The Elephants, scoring the most as they finished top in their pool.
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 Glamour Boys and the Sea Robbers, just like the other Premier Soccer League teams, will have a month or so to strengthen their squads in their bid to achieve the set objectives in the ongoing 2025/26 campaign, both domestically and abroad. While Amakhosi continue rebuilding, the Buccaneers want to sustain their already impressive quality.
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.
Motherwell winger Tawanda Maswanhise announced himself on the international stage with a breathtaking Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) goal that is already being talked about as a contender for the strike of the tournament. The Scottish Premiership star, who has been in prolific domestic form, translated that confidence seamlessly into the AFCON as Zimbabwe faced South Africa in a Group B encounter on Monday.
The tournament is one of the best-attended events in December, drawing spectators from far and wide every year. The tournament in question is one of the oldest in the country, but this year's edition was rocked by a controversial incident that forced one match to be abandoned. This is another incident that has been reported after a football administrator was killed in another annual tournament in Limpopo.
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.
South Africa sealed their spot in the Round of 16 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, joining Egypt as Group B runners-up after edging Zimbabwe 3-2 at Stade de Marrakech on Monday, December 29. The decisive victory capped a spirited group-stage run, ensuring Bafana Bafana’s journey continues into the knockout rounds with momentum and belief.
The national team laboured to a narrow win over COSAFA rivals, the Warriors in a closely contested Group B outing staged at the Marrakesh Stadium on Monday evening. It was a massive result for the 1996 winners, who will, potentially, play Cameroon or the defending champions Ivory Coast, in the next phase.
The MTN8-winning South Africa international defender has been playing in the Middle East after failing to get a team back at home, but it seems he might soon be heading out to Zimbabwe, where some top names from the Mzansi Premier Soccer League are playing. At 32 years old, the player, who can play any position at the back four, has a couple of seasons at the top.
South Africa
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