The bronze medalists from last year set off for Morocco after a successful send-off match, eager to improve their continental standing.
South Africa (18 December 2025) – Three more days till we witness Africa’s top football nations battle to the ultimate prize! Off a confidence-boosting bronze-medal finish at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations, Bafana Bafana are heading into this year’s tournament with belief and unfinished business.
South Africa has been drawn in Group B, alongside Egypt, which is a seven-time AFCON champion. Zimbabwe and Angola (Bafana Bafana’s opening challenge).
The national team wrapped up their final preparations on home soil with a narrow but encouraging 1–0 victory over Ghana’s Black Galaxies at a packed Dobsonville Stadium. The send-off match offered a positive note ahead of their departure to Morocco, where South Africa will once again test themselves against the continent’s best, hoping to build on last year’s podium finish in Ivory Coast.
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Coach Hugo Broos used the fixture as an opportunity to assess squad depth, resting several regular starters including captain Ronwen Williams, Teboho Mokoena, Khuliso Mudau, Oswin Appolis and Mbekezeli Mbokazi. their absence, Orlando Pirates defender Nkosinathi Sibisi captained the side for just the second time, while Thabang Matuludi earned his first start in national colours.
Despite the changes, Bafana showed composure. With the send-off match completed, the squad departed their training base at the High Performance Centre in Pretoria before travelling to OR Tambo International Airport en route to Morocco.
As the 2024 bronze medallists, Bafana Bafana head into this AFCON carrying renewed confidence, a growing sense of belief and a hunger to go one step further. With a solid blend of experience and fresh faces, South Africa will be aiming to turn last year’s breakthrough into sustained continental success.
The journey begins now, and all eyes will be on Bafana as they look to write the next chapter of their AFCON story.
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