Bafana, AFCON favourites? Broos warns players on expectations

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has warned his players the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), will be tough as opposed to the 2023 edition when they finished third.

The 2025 edition starts on Sunday, but South Africa, who are in Group B, will have to wait a day more before playing Angola. On December 26, they will face the seven-time champions Egypt before concluding their group assignments three days later versus Zimbabwe.

Broos argues in 2023, his team was not given a chance to deliver, owing to their initial struggles. It will not be the case in Morocco as the 73-year-old Belgian explains.

Why South Africa will not find the going easy at AFCON

“I have already told the players that our status is a little different from the previous AFCON. In the previous AFCON, we were just one of the teams. Maybe today we are one of the teams that can win AFCON,” Broos told the media.

“That means, I’m sure of it, that our opponents will have a different mindset when they play against us than they did two years ago. We have to be prepared for that. I’m not nervous because I still believe in what I did in the past years in the team, even when there are some new players, young players with us. But I know what we can do, I know how good we are.

“To see the progression of Bafana in the last two years, then you have in mind the game against Nigeria a few months ago, now we can also play with power, we can also resist power. That means we don’t have to be afraid of AFCON. I also read left and right that some countries are saying that South Africa can win AFCON.

“So maybe we are now one of the favourites, the many favourites because when you see the teams who are now at AFCON, and you compare two years ago, I think this AFCON will be much tougher,” he added.

Broos insists South Africa have to start well

Broos has further challenged his players to ensure they go for a win against Angola since it will ease the pressure against Egypt four days later.

The beautiful Marrakech is set for kickoff! 🇲🇦

We meet on December 22 for the #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025. 🌍

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— TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 (@TotalAFCON2025) December 11, 2025

“We just have to focus on the next days and certainly try to have a good start. The difference now is that we play the first game against Angola, then we play against the favourites in our group, Egypt,” he continued.

“So, imagine if we don’t win against Angola, then you play with a knife [on the throat], and we have to avoid that. We have to win that first game.

“We have to be ready from the first minute, and I’m sure that we will,” Broos concluded.

On Tuesday, South Africa played Ghana in their final build-up match at Dobsonville Stadium and managed a 1-0 win.