Bafana Bafana players AFCON 2025 tournament ratings

Following South Africa’s elimination from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, focus has shifted on how Hugo Broos’ team performed.

Bafana Bafana were knocked out at the Round of 16 following a 2-1 loss to Cameroon on Sunday but overall, they did not have a great campaign compared to AFCON 2023 when they finished third.

Afrik-Foot rates how each Bafana Bafana player performed at AFCON 2025.

Goalkeepers

Ronwen Williams 9/10

The Bafana Bafana goalkeeper was the most impressive from Broos’ 25-man squad in Morocco as his saves kept South Africa into the tournament up to the knockout rounds.

Were it not for Williams’ heroics, South Africa would have drawn or lost to Angola and Zimbabwe, pulling off great saves that helped South Africa to two wins when they would have perhaps not won a game.

Sipho Chaine & Ricardo Goss NA

Were not utilised at AFCON 2025.

Defenders

Mbekezeli Mbokazi 8/10

The Chicago Fire-bound defender was outstanding for Bafana Bafana in the way he kept out danger and got them playing with his great passing from the back but the manner in which he was sat down for the second goal against Zimbabwe denies him more marks.

Siyabonga Ngezana 6/10

He had a decent tournament as he did the basics right but was guilty for goals conceded against Angola and Cameroon, the latter’s second one.

Nkosinathi Sibisi 5/10

Got his first start in the Round of 16 against Cameroon as part of a three-man defence but did not set the stage a light. It is also from his unlucky deflection that the Indomitable Lions opened the scoring.

Khuliso Mudau 7/10

The right-back was another outstating performer at AFCON 2025 but his careless hand-to-face against Mohamed Salah is what perhaps denied Bafana a place at the top of Group B as they lost to Egypt through a penalty.

Aubrey Modiba 7.5/10

The left-back started three games and came off the bench against Cameroon and had top performances, including the assists for Bafana’s goal against the Indomitable Lions.

Samukelo Kabini 4.5/10

The Norway-based full-back played one game, when he started as a wingback against Cameroon, but was poor and it was from his missed ball that Christian Kofane scored the West Africans’ second.

Thabang Matuludi, Kulumane Ndamane & Tylon Smith NA

The three defenders did not play.

Midfielders

Teboho Mokoena 7.5/10

He did not shine as during AFCON 2023 but he still showed enough quality in central midfield and was unlucky not to get at least one goal from a freekick. He drove Bafana forward and tried to launch attacks from deep.

Sphephelo Sithole 5/10

The midfielder had a poor tournament and struggled against Egypt and Zimbabwe which saw him lose his spot in the starting XI in the round of 16.

Bathusi Aubaas 6.5/10

Impressed when he came off the bench against Zimbabwe, earning a spot in the starting XI for Cameroon, but had a hard time against the Indomitable Lions.

Thalente Mbatha 5/10

Was part of a very defensive midfield three against Egypt but struggled and was taken off at halftime. He got just five minutes against Zimbabwe with minimal impact.

Sipho Mbule 6/10

Started against Angola and Zimbabwe and had 45 minutes against Egypt before 16 when Bafana played Cameroon. Besides his back flick for Oswin Appollis’s goal against Angola, there was not much to remember from ‘MasterChef.’

Forwards

Oswin Appollis 8.5/10

Scored the first goal of the tournament against Angola as well as a high-pressure penalty to win it against Zimbabwe.

Mohau Nkota 5/10

Started the first game but failed to have an impact and dropped to the bench for subsequent matches, getting 15 minutes against Zimbabwe which he failed to utilise.

Tshepang Moremi 7.5/10

Had an assist against Angola after coming off the bench, earning him back-to-back starts, and he backed it up with a goal against Zimbabwe.

Relebohile Mofokeng 5.5/10

Did not shine as it was hoped when he came off the bench against Egypt and missed Bafana’s best chance against Cameroon in his first and only start.

Elias Mokwana 4/10

Got 11 minutes each against Angola and South Africa but had zero impact.

Evidence Makgopa 6.5/10

Had three straight substitute appearances against Egypt, Zimbabwe and Cameroon and scored a late consolation against the Indomitable Lions although there is a feeling that he could have done much better with more minutes.

Lyle Foster 8.5/10

Scored a beautiful winner against Angola and was on target again when they beat Zimbabwe, a game he also had an assist. He, however, missed a glorious opportunity against Cameroon after just three minutes.

Shandre Campbell NA

Did not play.