Zimbabwe news

Football lovers in the country are hopeful their team can deliver as anticipated in the forthcoming biennial competition that will be staged in North Africa. In the initial campaign in Ivory Coast, the 73-year-old Belgian tactician defied the odds to help the country finish in podium positions. It explains the high expectations in the forthcoming campaign.

For South Africa, the duel carried more weight, as it is their final friendly game before heading to Morocco for the Africa Cup of Nations. For Ghana, who will not be part of the AFCON competition, the match was meant to sharpen them for the African Nations Championship qualifiers. With some players not available yet, Hugo Broos gave stars like Ricardo Goss and Khulumani Ndamane starting chances.

As days progress towards the continental finals, the Bafana camp has been hit with a number of issues, mainly off-pitch ones. Hugo Broos has also had to prepare for AFCON with a squad without all players summoned because they are still attached to their clubs. However, the Mamelodi Sundowns star is confident Bafana will overcome all these issues and fully concentrate on the job ahead.

As the experienced tactician is preparing his players for the continental finals, his selections continue to be placed under scrutiny. There was noise when players like Thembinkosi Lorch were snubbed, but Broos has always defended his decision. Now, his squad has been described as unbalanced and a disgrace to the country just days before the finals begin in Morocco.

The forward's efforts in recent games have been recognised by being given an award just days before the continental games begin in Morocco. The youngster beat his equally in-form teammate to the club's prestigious award. Both Bucs' stars are in the Bafana camp, where their AFCON preparations have intensified.

The experienced tactician has revealed what his players must try to avoid in order not to complicate their AFCON campaign. The Belgian has explained why Angola poses a great danger to Bafana, who hope to progress further this time around. He has also admitted he has never had a keen interest in Angola and had to research them after they were drawn in the same group as South Africa.

South Africa’s brightest young talent, Mbokazi, finds himself in the bad books of the no-nonsense Bafana Bafana coach and needs to work his way out to keep his dream of playing in the AFCON as well as the World Cup. Broos was left fuming after Mbekezeli Mbokazi, fresh from leading the Buccaneers to yet another cup triumph, arrived late for the national team camp in preparation for the upcoming AFCON.

The in‑form forward has linked up with Bafana Bafana as the squad sharpens its plans for the Nations Cup in Morocco, scheduled for the December to January window. His inclusion comes after a strong opening to the 2025/26 season, where his early impact earned him a deserved call into the national setup once again.

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.

In an attempt to clear himself of the allegations made against him, the Bafana tactician has broken his silence over the matter. The experienced coach has been under fire since he called out the defender for reporting late to the camp. A frustrated Broos criticised the Chicago Fire's new signing and his agent, as well as Orlando Pirates.

As Broos deals with the storm, his comments on the Chicago Fire defender generated, he has singled out what he will not tell the Bafana Bafana players before and during the AFCON finals. The Belgian has also revealed the pressure he gets from the fans, who are hopeful that Mzansi will do well in Morocco. After reaching the semi-finals in the last edition, Bafana are seen as among the pre-tournament favourites.

Broos' attack on the Bafana defender continues to dominate the headlines as South Africa focus on the Africa Cup of Nations finals. The Chicago Fire's new signing reported to the camp late, disappointing his head coach, who made controversial comments against the player and his agent. The Belgian also attacked Bucs and claimed the MTN8 and Carling Knockout champions were defending the player.

The Brazilians were in terrific form in the tournament, showcasing their class. They first swept past their semi-final opponents to storm into the final, setting the tone for a dominant tournament decider. Their opponents had narrowly edged TAFIC 1-0 to book a spot in the final, but were then humiliated by the Tshane giants in the final. Overall, Masandawana underlined their superiority throughout the tournament.