Bafana Bafana Set to Face Cameroon in AFCON 2025 Knockout Stage

On Wednesday, South Africa confirmed their opponents for the Round of 16 in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, taking place in Morocco. Bafana Bafana is set to clash with Cameroon, a match that promises to be an exciting encounter between two former champions, scheduled for Sunday.

Hugo Broos, the current head coach of Bafana Bafana, will face his former team, the Indomitable Lions, with whom he had a successful tenure from 2016 to 2017. Under his guidance, Cameroon secured their fifth AFCON title eight years ago in Gabon.

In Agadir, Cameroon claimed a 2-1 victory over Mozambique, with Geny Catamo scoring first for the Mambas in the 23rd minute. However, an own goal by Nene in the 28th minute allowed the Indomitable Lions to equalize, followed by Christian Kofane’s decisive goal in the 55th minute.

Meanwhile, the defending champions, Ivory Coast, rallied from behind to defeat Gabon 3-2 in Marrakech. Gabon initially took a 2-0 lead with goals from Guelor Kanga and Denis Bouanga. The Elephants responded through Jean-Philippe Krasso and Evann Guessand, before Bazoumana Touré scored a dramatic winner in stoppage time.

As a result, Ivory Coast will face Burkina Faso in a quarter-final match on January 6 in Marrakesh. The winner will advance to meet either Benin or Egypt.

Reflecting on his coaching career, Broos drew comparisons between his achievements with South Africa and his past successes with Cameroon. “Honestly, I believe what we accomplished with South Africa surpasses my achievements with Cameroon,” the 73-year-old admitted. “Two years ago, few expected us to reach the semi-finals, and I am proud of our journey, which is still ongoing.”

Broos emphasized the importance of maintaining focus and determination in the knockout rounds. He noted, “In our first half against Egypt, we lacked aggression and determination. We must improve our concentration, especially against formidable teams like Ivory Coast or Cameroon, as we cannot afford to present unprepared performances.”

The upcoming match between South Africa and Cameroon will take place at the Al Medina Stadium in Rabat, with a quarter-final berth on the line. In their historical head-to-head record, Bafana Bafana holds the advantage, having won three matches, while Cameroon has secured one victory, with five matches ending in a draw. The winner will face either the hosts, Cameroon, or Tanzania in a quarter-final encounter on January 9.