Transfer gamble: How club moves reshaped 2025 AFCON hopes for Bafana Bafana players

In football, a transfer can be a career-defining moment.

For some players, it opens doors to glory; for others, it closes the window to international opportunities.

As the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2025) approaches, several South African stars have seen their national team prospects swing dramatically either for better or worse because of decisions to change clubs.

Rising and Falling Stars

Basadien: From Bafana Bench to Chloorkop Benchwarmers

Once a permanent fixture at Stellenbosch FC, Fawaaz Basadien enjoyed consistent game time: 25 league appearances and 2,202 minutes in the 2024–25 season, contributing 3 goals and 5 assists. His reliability earned him four senior Bafana caps.

But since transferring to Mamelodi Sundowns in July 2025, he’s struggled to break into the starting XI, just 3 league appearances (191 minutes) this season.

Tactical Shift:
At Stellenbosch, Basadien thrived as an overlapping full-back in a hybrid role, exploiting space and delivering crosses. At Sundowns, he faces fierce competition and a possession-heavy system that demands precision passing and positional discipline. With limited minutes, his form dipped, costing him his national team spot.

Jayden Adams: Once Bafana’s Midfield Gem, Now Lost in the Shuffle

Adams was tipped as Bafana’s midfield future after excelling at Stellenbosch. His 2024–25 season included 17 Premiership appearances and a goal, but since joining Sundowns in January 2025, he’s been used sparingly, 10 appearances, 451 minutes.

Tactical Analysis: Adams thrived as a dynamic No. 8 at Stellenbosch, pressing and transitioning quickly. At Sundowns, the rigid structure and intense competition have stifled his creativity. Despite flashes in CAF Champions League and MTN8, he hasn’t cemented a starting role, leaving him out of Hugo Broos’ plans.

Elias Mokwana: A Stumble After the Saudi Step

Mokwana was a Bafana starter after shining at Sekhukhune United and Espérance de Tunis. But his move to Al Hazem in Saudi Arabia (August 2025) disrupted that momentum. He’s managed just 3 league appearances (92 minutes) with no goals or assists.

Why It Faltered: Saudi’s slower tempo and tactical rigidity don’t suit Mokwana’s explosive style. Limited game time and reduced visibility have seen him slip off the national radar ahead of AFCON.

Transfers That Ignited 2025 AFCON Ambitions

Masindi Nemtajela: Familiar Faces, New Stage

Leaving Marumo Gallants for Orlando Pirates was a career leap—and a reunion with a coach who knew his strengths. At Marumo, Nemtajela played as a deep-lying playmaker in a reactive system. Pirates demanded more: pressing high, progressing the ball, and supporting attacks.

Tactical Insight:

• Marumo: Double pivot, defensive cover, short passing.
• Pirates: Hybrid No. 8, pressing aggressively, 4.2 progressive passes per 90.

This evolution has made him a strong candidate for Bafana, where versatility and intensity are prized.

Tshepang Moremi: From AmaZulu to Pirates, A Career Reboot

At AmaZulu, Moremi showed flashes of brilliance but lacked consistency. Pirates gave him a bigger stage—and he delivered: 17 matches, 8 goal contributions, 930 minutes across competitions. His creativity in MTN8 and CAF Champions League fixtures has been pivotal.

Why It Changed His Bafana Prospects: Moremi’s performances under pressure proved he could handle intensity and tactical demands. His versatility fits Broos’ system, earning him recent Bafana call-ups.

Tactical Insight:

• AmaZulu: Rigid 4-4-2, limited freedom.
• Pirates: Fluid 4-3-3, exploiting half-spaces, pressing high.

Sipho Mbule: A Fresh Start and a Timely Opportunity

Mbule’s move from Sundowns to Pirates was a lifeline. At Pirates, he rediscovered his rhythm: 14 matches, 500+ minutes, key assists, and an 85% passing accuracy. With Themba Zwane injured, Mbule became Bafana’s creative heartbeat.

Tactical Appeal: Mbule’s ability to shift between deep playmaker and advanced No. 8 aligns perfectly with Broos’ blueprint, quick transitions, aggressive pressing, and unlocking defenses.

Mohau Nkota: Scoring in Saudi, Scoring in National Squad

The 20-year-old winger’s move from Orlando Pirates to Saudi’s Al-Ettifaq in July 2025 has paid off. With 7 league appearances yielding 2 goals, he’s made a strong early impression. FBref stats show 8 matches, 2 goals, 1 assist, and a goal contribution every 90 minutes, 0.49 G+A per 90, landing in the 80th percentile in Saudi’s Pro League.

Tactical Insight: Nkota’s style, explosive inside movement, clever pressing translates well into more physical, direct leagues. His adaptability and scoring off the bench, or as a rotational starter, provide national coaches with a dynamic winger option who can shift match momentum.

As AFCON 2025 Nears…

Bafana Bafana's final squad selection will hinge not just on raw talent, but on who's match-fit, in form, and tactically adaptable. While Sundowns offers prestige and good salaries, it has come at a cost for some players. Conversely, spirited performances at Pirates and abroad in Saudi are creating new national candidates.

The lesson: Transfers are double-edged swords, ambition can open doors or slam them shut. South African football's future will increasingly depend on such calculated moves. Let’s see how these decisions shape Hugo Broos’ squad, but one thing is clear: the right transfer can mean the difference between a ticket to AFCON glory or a season watching from home.