AFCON 2025: Ex-Cape Town City keeper warns Bafana Bafana ahead of Angola showdown

South Africa’s Bafana Bafana will come up against a familiar face when they meet Angola in Group B of the Africa Cup of Nations, goalkeeper Hugo Marques, who once turned out in the Premier Soccer League for Cape Town City.

Marques has warned that failing to progress beyond the group stage would be a major disappointment for the Palancas Negras, who are drawn alongside South Africa, seven-time champions Egypt, and Zimbabwe.

“We’re preparing to get through the group stage, and we think it’s possible,” Marques told Flashscore. “With a win in the group, we can move into the top third straight away, and that’s good.”

The Angolans’ best-ever AFCON finish is the quarter-finals, achieved in 2010 and again in 2023. Marques believes his side can replicate that resilience, recalling how they topped their group in the last edition despite not being favourites.

“We have to do our job and try to get as far up the group as possible. From what we’ve been doing, if we don’t get through the group stage, it’ll be a big disappointment,” he added.

Angola will open their campaign against South Africa on 22 December, a fixture that will see Marques face many players he once competed against during his PSL stint.