With just three days to go before the continent’s premier football nations clash for Africa’s ultimate prize, Bafana Bafana are in Morocco, ready to begin their AFCON 2025 campaign with belief and unfinished business. Coming off a confidence-boosting bronze-medal finish at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations, the national team is eager to build on last year’s success.
South Africa has been drawn into Group B, facing formidable opponents including seven-time AFCON champions Egypt, alongside Zimbabwe and Angola, who will be Bafana Bafana’s opening challenge.
The team wrapped up their final preparations on home soil with a narrow but encouraging 1–0 victory over Ghana’s Black Galaxies at a packed Dobsonville Stadium. The send-off match offered a positive note ahead of their departure to Morocco, where South Africa will once again test themselves against the continent’s elite.
Coach Hugo Broos used the fixture to assess squad depth, resting several regular starters, including captain Ronwen Williams, Teboho Mokoena, Khuliso Mudau, Oswin Appolis, and Mbekezeli Mbokazi. In their absence, Orlando Pirates defender Nkosinathi Sibisi captained the side for just the second time, while Thabang Matuludi earned his first start in national colours. Despite these changes, Bafana showed composure and cohesion.
Having completed their journey from Pretoria, the squad is now settled in Morocco, ready to train, acclimatize, and focus fully on the tournament ahead.
As the 2024 bronze medallists, Bafana Bafana enter this year’s tournament carrying renewed confidence, a growing sense of belief, and a hunger to go one step further. With a strong mix of experienced campaigners and fresh talent, South Africa aims to turn last year’s breakthrough into sustained continental success.
The journey begins now, and all eyes will be on Bafana Bafana as they look to write the next chapter of their AFCON story.