South Africa’s national team, Bafana Bafana, has secured a place in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, thanks to a surprising 3-2 victory by South Sudan over Congo.
Story Summary:
- Bafana Bafana qualifies for AFCON 2025 after South Sudan’s surprise victory over Congo.
- Hugo Broos is the first coach to secure back-to-back AFCON qualifications for South Africa.
- Remaining fixtures against Uganda and South Sudan are now ‘dead rubbers’ but important for team preparation.
Hugo Broos makes history
This development marks a historic moment for Bafana Bafana head coach, Hugo Broos, who becomes the first coach to guide the team to two consecutive AFCON tournaments.
With eight points in Group K, Bafana’s qualification is secure as Congo, currently on four points, cannot catch up even if they win their final game against Uganda.
This achievement comes months after Bafana Bafana’s commendable performance at the 2023 AFCON tournament in Côte d’Ivoire, where they clinched the bronze medal and earned shotstopper Ronwen Williams a Ballon d’Or nomination.
Broos’s Impact on Bafana Bafana and His Bold Approach
Hugo Broos’s journey as head coach has been marked by impressive achievements and a bold approach to the challenges within South African football.
Appointed in 2021, the Belgian-born coach has brought much-needed confidence to a team that struggled in recent years to assert itself on the continental stage.
His outspoken nature has occasionally attracted controversy, especially when he publicly criticised the South African Football Association (SAFA) and addressed what he saw as barriers to progress.
However, Broos’s focus on discipline, squad consistency, and an attacking style has yielded results.
Under his guidance, Bafana has maintained an impressive record with 19 wins, 13 draws, and only a handful of losses.
Broos’s leadership also saw Bafana achieve a top-three finish in the last AFCON tournament, a feat that raised hopes for a deeper run in 2025.
Broos has never shied away from high expectations. He recently said:
“If we lost both games, five minutes after the game, I’ll be on a flight to Belgium, you can be sure of that.”
His blunt comments stirred mixed reactions, with some interpreting his confidence as arrogance and others as a strong commitment to excellence.
Broos further asserted:
“Can you imagine if the bronze medallists of nine months ago cannot even qualify for the next AFCON? I am not thinking about that!”
Bafana Bafana AFCON 2025 fixture schedule
Although Bafana Bafana has already qualified, the team will still play its remaining Group K fixtures during this international break.
On Friday, 15 November 2024, they face Uganda at the Mandela National Stadium in Kampala, a match set for 15:00 SAST.
Despite already securing qualification, this encounter remains significant as Bafana aims to showcase their consistency and continue their momentum into the upcoming AFCON tournament.
On Tuesday, 19 November 2024, Bafana returns home to take on South Sudan at the DHL Cape Town Stadium at 18:00.
This match will serve as an opportunity for Broos to fine-tune his lineup and test tactics ahead of the AFCON competition in Morocco.
South Africa’s current FIFA ranking of 60th puts them in a stronger position than both Uganda, ranked 87th, and South Sudan, ranked 172nd.
