Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has announced his 25-man squad for this month’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which will be held in Morocco from 21 December – 18 January 2026.
The squad features a mix of old and youngsters like Shandre Campbell and Tyron Smit, who both distinguished themself Player at the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year. The team includes ten survivors from the 2024 AFCON squad, which finished third in the tournament held in Ivory Coast. Notable absentees include Mamelodi Sundowns’ Themba Zwane, Iqraam Rayners and Thembinkosi Lorch.
The squad however includes most of the players who have featured for Bafana during the World Cup and AFCON qualifiers. Meanwhile, Rayners, Mduduzi Shabalala, and Thabo Moloisane are on standby, should any player experience injuries or withdraw from the final 25.
“It is very important that we have players who know that if something happens with injuries or whatever, we can count on them. We will ask them to stay in shape and train, and keep in good condition because should something happen, we are prepared. So that’s why I have selected these players and will keep them on standby,” explained the coach.
Bafana are in Group B in the AFCON, and they will face neighbours Angola, Zimbabwe, and Egypt. The team will assemble in Pretoria next week in preparations for the continental tournament and will open its account against Angola on 22 December 2025.
Broos will on this week attend draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Washington DC, where he will join several coaches and officials from the 48 countries that have qualified for the tournament to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico from 11 June – 19 July 2026.
