South Africa vs Ghana: Rivalry Tilts in Bafana Bafana’s Favour Ahead of AFCON 2025

Although Ghana fielded a home-based selection, Tuesday’s clash against South Africa at Dobsonville was recognised as a full international and marked the 16th meeting between the two countries.

The match served as Bafana Bafana’s final warm-up before heading to Morocco for the Africa Cup of Nations finals, where they begin their campaign next Monday against Angola in Marrakech.

South Africa edged Ghana 1-0 thanks to a second-half strike from Sipho Mbule, giving Hugo Broos’ side a morale boost ahead of AFCON.

With that victory, Bafana Bafana now lead the head-to-head record 7 wins to Ghana’s 5, with four draws.

Their previous encounter had been the infamous 2022 World Cup qualifier in Cape Coast, where Ghana claimed a 1-0 win via a controversial penalty to advance to the playoffs ahead of the finals in Qatar.

History of South Africa v Ghana Clashes

• South Africa 2-1 Ghana – Four Nations Cup, 26 Nov 1994 (Maponyane, Khumalo)
• South Africa 3-0 Ghana – AFCON semifinal, 31 Jan 1996 (Moshoeu brace, Bartlett)
• South Africa 0-0 Ghana – Four Nations Cup, 21 Sep 1996
• Ghana 0-1 South Africa – AFCON quarterfinal, 6 Feb 2000 (Nomvete)
• South Africa 0-0 Ghana – AFCON Group B, 24 Jan 2002
• Ghana 3-0 South Africa – WC qualifier, 20 Jun 2004 (Muntari, Appiah brace)
• South Africa 0-2 Ghana – WC qualifier, 18 Jun 2005 (Amoah, Essien)
• South Africa 2-1 Ghana – Friendly, 15 Oct 2008 (McCarthy, Parker)
• South Africa 1-0 Ghana – Friendly, 11 Aug 2010 (Mphela)
• Ghana 2-1 South Africa – AFCON Group C, 27 Jan 2015 (Boye, Ayew)
• South Africa 1-1 Ghana – Friendly, 11 Oct 2016 (Patosi equaliser)
• Ghana 2-0 South Africa – AFCON qualifier, 14 Nov 2019 (Partey, Kudus)
• South Africa 1-1 Ghana – AFCON qualifier, 25 Mar 2021 (Tau equaliser)
• South Africa 1-0 Ghana – WC qualifier, 6 Sep 2021 (Hlongwane)
• Ghana 1-0 South Africa – WC qualifier, 14 Nov 2021 (Ayew penalty)
• South Africa 1-0 Ghana – Friendly, 16 Dec 2025 (Mbule)