‘It’s a winning team’ – Lucas Radebe Ramps up AFCON pressure on Bafana Bafana

Bafana Bafana legend Lucas Radebe has given his verdict on South Africa’s chances of winning the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

South Africa started their journey to AFCON 2025 on Wednesday and are expected in Morocco by Thursday ahead of their opening match against Angola on Monday December 22 and there are high hopes among fans.

This is down to the consistency the team has shown since their last AFCON, having gone 25 matches without losing, and the fact that they won bronze at the 2023 edition.

Radebe, who was part of the team that won South Africa’s only AFCON title in 1996, is among those who believe Hugo Broos’ men should be considered title contenders.

Radebe on what makes SA AFCON favourites

“I think the way the team has been performing, being stable and with the consistency they’ve shown in doing well, plus given that the group of players that we have who have been together for a while now – for me that’s a winning team,” said Radebe as quoted by iDiski Times.

“And I think it brings hope and confidence to the fans that there’s a possibility [to win it]. I mean, after Ivory Coast [where Bafana Bafana finished third at the previous AFCON], that raised our hopes and we now expect them to do even better, even [to the extent of] winning it.

“And I mean, you can feel the vibe and the atmosphere with the national team playing and performing. It’s absolutely amazing. The glory days are back in our country.”

Chiefs legend wary of ‘tough’ Group B

The former Kaizer Chiefs defender acknowledges that South Africa are in a tough group which comprises record seven-time champions Egypt, COSAFA Cup winners Angola and Zimbabwe but believes they have enough quality to go all the way.

“Tough, a very tough group. I think for us, we look at it and think – do we have the quality? Yes, we have the quality. Can we compete? Yes, we can compete,” added the man popularly known as ‘The Chief.’

“We know Egypt, but they are not the same team anymore. They pose a different challenge, but I think we have the players who can actually stand up to them and can compete at that level.

What else is giving Bafana great hope?

“Yes, for the tournament games, you need depth because there are injuries and challenges that we’re going to face, but I believe that with the team that Hugo Broos has built, we should believe in them.

“Along with Helman [Mkhalele] and the entire technical team, coach Broos has built a good team. It’s not the team that’s just been assembled now, but this is a team that has been growing and developing all these years to reach this level.

“And once you reach this level, expectations get a bit higher, but the consistency must be seen as well. And I believe that we will do well to possibly win it,” the Leeds United legend further enumerated.