10 Bafana Bafana Stars to Watch at AFCON 2025

Bafana Bafana will head to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco as one of the dark horses following their run to third place in 2023.

South Africa were among the surprise packages in the last edition when they went on to clinch bronze and it could have been more had they been lucky in the penalty shootouts in the semi-final.

That therefore means they will be among the teams under pressure to impress with anything less than third place seen as an underachievement at the December 21 and January 18 tournament.

To do this, coach Hugo Broos will need to select a strong squad but who are the players to watch from South Africa?

Ronwen Williams

The reigning Africa goalkeeper of the year had a wonderful AFCON 2023 when he was named Goalkeeper of the Tournament after his heroics, which included saving four penalties in a shootout against Cape Verde, on the way to the semi-finals.

The Mamelodi Sundowns star, whose good display in Ivory Coast earned him a Ballon d’Or nomination, will be required to shut out opposition yet again as the last line of defence.

Mbekezeli Mbokazi

Still just 20, the Orlando Pirates central defender could still be playing in the Diski Challenge had ex-coach Jose Riveiro not taken notice and now South Africa are benefiting and will reap big in Morocco.

Fearless, a leader even at his young age, never afraid to make tackles and blessed with a great left-foot, Mbokazi ticks all boxes and has added star quality and stability to the Bafana defence.

He will certainly have a good tournament at his first-ever AFCON.

Aubrey Modiba

One of the few experienced players in the squad, the Mamelodi Sundowns left-back played every minute of AFCON 2023 and is set to do the same in 2025, unless an injury keeps him out.

Modiba offers assurance on the flanks while his tendency to make forward runs acts as another attacking outlet for the team and he has weighed in with a number of pre or assists and also brings in great crosses for attackers to feed on.

Teboho Mokoena

Another undroppable player for Bafana Bafana, Teboho Mokoena is the glue that sticks things together as he acts as the link between defence and attack.

The central midfielder is good at protecting the defence but also makes forward runs, creating chances for teammates, and he is deadly on dead balls.

This will be his second AFCON after a starring role in 2023, when he played every minute, and scored two goals while adding an assist.

Sipho Mbule

Master Chef, as they call him, has been ‘cooking’ since his four-year Bafana exile was ended by Broos in September, with impressive performances in World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho, Nigeria, Zimbabwe and Rwanda.

Mbule has emerged as the main creative force in light of the injuries of Themba Zwane and he is seen as the man who will now play in the No.10 role for Bafana Bafana in Morocco.

Mbule has backed that up with great displays for both his club Orlando Pirates and the national team.

Oswin Appollis

The Orlando Pirates winger has sprung to prominence in the last two years as a key asset for Bafana Bafana with his goals and assists and showed his quality in 2025 AFCON and 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Appollis scored two and provided four assists in six AFCON 2025 qualifiers and had two and as many assists in four World Cup qualifiers.

Those are impressive numbers that make him one of Broos’ go-to men in Morocco and after just one substitute appearance at AFCON 2023, the 2025 edition is his time to shine.

Mohau Nkota

Mohau Nkota is another youngster promoted to the Pirates team last season that has become a key player in 2025.

Now playing in Saudi Arabia with Al-Ettifaq, Nkota was handed his Bafana debut in June and he has not looked back, scoring one goal and adding two assists, but he brings lots of creativity, directness, pace on the wings as well as dynamism that had been missing at times and he could light it up at his maiden AFCON.

Evidence Makgopa

Questions were raised when Evidence Makgopa was selected for AFCON 2023 but Broos stuck to his guns and reaped the rewards as the Orlando Pirates striker started every game and scored one goal while adding an assist.

He would later lose his place in the team but returned for the final two World Cup qualifiers, scoring and assisting against Rwanda, and he is now headed to Morocco where he will play a key role again.

The only issue he has this time is that there is stiff competition from the likes of Lyle Foster and Iqraam Rayners but he offers directness, physicality and a focal point, qualities the other strikers do not have.

Lyle Foster

The Burnley striker has been the most preferred striker for coach Broos in the AFCON and World Cup qualifiers and he has four goals and an assist in eight games over that period which makes it hard to drop heading into AFCON 2025.

Foster missed the 2023 edition as he was dealing with a health issue but he is back healthy and hungry and after expressing interest to break the Bafana all-time scoring record, his first AFCON in Morocco is the platform to show that he can do it.

Relebohile Mofokeng

The biggest question right now is if he will make the team to Morocco as his form at club level has been worrying while injuries have also disrupted him but the quality is there.

The 21-year-old Orlando Pirates forward was one of the standout players last season but no goals and two assists in 14 games for the Buccaneers is not Rele-like and he needs to have an impressive November to win his place in the team.

Mofokeng will likely be an impact sub if he makes the squad but he could need just 10 or 15 minutes on the pitch in Morocco to change his fortunes given his vision, creativity and eye for goal which might end up changing the course of his career.