How South Africa Qualified for AFCON 2025 — Full Journey

South Africa are among the 24 teams that will be competing for the Africa Cup of Nations crown in Morocco.

They have been placed in Group B alongside record champions Egypt, Angola and Zimbabwe. Having reached the podium positions in the 2021 edition and left with a bronze, more is expected from Hugo Broos' men.

Bafana Bafana qualified for the biennial competition without tasting defeat. But how was the journey? Here is a breakdown on how they qualified for the tournament.

South Africa 2-2 Uganda

This was the first game in Group K of the qualifiers that was staged at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on September 6, 2024.

As expected, the hosts started the game well, scoring in the 14 minute courtesy of Burnley star Lyle Foster.

However, the East African nation stunned the home crowd by striking in the 51st and 53rd minute courtesy of Denis Omedi and Rogers Mato.

It looked like the game will end in defeat, until Thalente Mbatha's screamer ensured spoils were shared.

South Sudan 2-3 South Africa

The second game for Broos' men was against a seemingly easire South Sudan side on September 10th at the Juba Stadium.

Against the odds, Tito Okello scored from the penalty in the 15th minute to give the Bright Stars a shocking lead in front of thousands of fans.

Oswin Appollis leveled matters two minutes later before he completed his brace in the added minutes of half-time.

South Sudan equalised in the 57th minute through Valentino Kuach Yuel before, once again, Thalente Mbatha scored a last-gasp winner for Mzansi.

South Africa 5-0 Congo

This was the biggest win Bafana Bafana recorded in the qualifier staged at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on October 11.

Oswin Appollis provided a hattrick of assists in the 12th, 27th and 37th minutes for Teboho Mokoena, twice, and Bathusi Aubaas respectively.

It then became 4-0 in the 52nd minute when Foster scored his second of the campaign. Iqraam Rayners scored his team's fifth with 12 minutes to go.

Congo 1-1 South Africa

The two nations met four days later at Alphonse Massemba-Débat Stadium in Brazzaville.

Bafana Bafana might have anticpated at least a win owing to their previous showings. Elias Mokwana needed 33 minutes to get his name on the score sheet.

However, the hosts struck back in the stroke of half-time through Mons Bassouamina to make it 1-1, and eventually, it ended in a draw.

Uganda 0-2 South Africa

The Cranes must have thought they had a chance of qualifying as the winners of Group K when they hosted Bafana Bafana on November 15, 2024 at the Nelson Mandela Stadium.

The first half ended goalless but just four minutes after the break, Thapelo Morena was on target.

Orlando Pirates midfielder Patrick Maswanganyi then scored the second for his team to ensure it ended 2-0, which was the game that decided the fate of the pool.

South Africa 3-0 South Sudan

Bafana Bafana needed a win of any kind against the minnows to guarantee them a top spot in the pool on November 11 at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town.

Iqraam Rayners scored in the seventh minute to set the tone in the stadium, before Maswanganyi doubled the advantage after 22 minutes.

The third goal came in the 50th minute through Mokoena as South Africa ended the campaign with 14 points, one more than Uganda who finished second.