South Africa's Bafana Bafana were eliminated from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after a 2-1 loss to Cameroon in the quarterfinals on January 4. The team adopted a conservative tactical approach that contrasted with their successful run to third place in the 2023 tournament. Coach Hugo Broos attributed some shortcomings to luck but insisted the side is not regressing.
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, hosted in Morocco, saw South Africa's national football team, Bafana Bafana, exit in the quarterfinals following a narrow 2-1 defeat to Cameroon on Sunday, January 4. This result marked a step back from their bronze medal achievement at the 2023 edition in Ivory Coast, where they had exceeded expectations by reaching the semifinals.
Under Belgian coach Hugo Broos, who was appointed in 2021 after South Africa missed the previous Afcon, the team displayed a more cautious style. Broos, now 73 and previously successful with Cameroon in 2017, opted for defensive setups, including three centre-backs and midfielders Bathusi Aubaas and Teboho Mokoena against Cameroon. This approach limited their attacking flair, evident in missed opportunities during the opening 15 minutes of the match, allowing Cameroon to capitalize.
The absence of playmaker Themba Zwane, left out due to recent injury recovery, further hampered creativity. Prior to 2023, Bafana Bafana had struggled, failing to qualify for four of the last 10 Afcons and rarely advancing from group stages.
Despite the disappointment, Broos rejected notions of decline. "No, we’re not going backwards," he said. "I agree that maybe in some games the performances were not at the level of the South Africa everybody has come to know [after I took over]. But sometimes you also need a little bit of luck." He noted the team conceded more goals than the three allowed in the entire 2023 tournament and called for evaluation ahead of World Cup preparations.
Bafana Bafana's next challenge is their first World Cup appearance in 16 years this June, where a bolder strategy may be essential for knockout progression.
