Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos promised to resign next week if his team fail to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
South Africa have two matches remaining against Uganda and South Sudan and need two points to secure a place at next year’s tournament in Morocco.
Broos’ men head into the qualifiers second in Group K on eight points from four matches, two behind Uganda, who have already qualified. Congo, meanwhile, are third on four points, while South Sudan, who have lost all their matches, are out of contention.
It therefore leaves Broos and his charges in the driver’s seat as they need two draws from the matches to beat Congo to the remaining qualification ticket.
Broos has multiple options to secure qualification
Bafana Bafana take on Uganda in Kampala on November 15 and victory will all but secure their ticket as it would put them on 11 points, which Congo cannot match, even if they win their matches against South Sudan and the Cranes.
Congo can only reach a maximum of 10 points and given it is head-to-head records and not goal difference that settles it in case of a tie, they will still be out even if they win both matches this month, since they lost 5-0 to South Africa in Gqeberha before a 1-1 draw in Brazzaville in October.
It means South Africa men will qualify with a draw in Kampala and another one against South Sudan in Cape Town four days later, regardless of what Congo achieve, but Broos will be on the flight back to Belgium if his team loses in Kampala and draws at home or worse still, lose both matches, and the Congolese secure maximum points.
Can Bafana Bafana claim top spot in Group K?
That therefore means Broos’ charges should target a win in one of the two matches to make their qualification journey smooth.
There is also the extra incentive of finishing top of the group for South Africa and this can only happen if they win at least one match and Uganda lose both their games or if South Africa simply collect more points than the Cranes.
Uganda will be at home to South Africa on Friday and then face Congo away four days later and given they have already qualified, it is possible that complacency might kick in, allowing Bafana Bafana an opportunity to close in on top spot in Group K.
