Afcon 2025: What a successful tournament looks like for Bafana Bafana
Bafana Bafana players celebrate after scoring their third goal during their match against Rwanda at Mbombela stadium to book their place at the 2026 World Cup in North America.
Image: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix
Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has named his preliminary squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations earlier this week, and it has been well received by supporters and pundits – sort of.
Uncapped youngsters Tylon Smith, Shandre Campbell and Puso Dithejane have got the nod, and they now have the tough task of convincing the Belgian to include them in his final 23 for the tournament.
Campbell has been making a name for himself in Belgium and has impressed with two goals in all competitions for Club Brugge. Dithejane has chipped in with nine goal involvements in the Betway Premiership, getting the attention of Broos, and Smith is one of the best young players on the continent.
Bongokuhle Hlongwane has been included, and will be hoping to don the shirt for the first time in over a year, while Kaizer Chiefs’ Brandon Petersen will be out to show he belongs at that level after an impressive season so far for his club.
The squad selection has not been roundly praised, though, with former Bafana skipper Itumeleng Khune questioning Broos’ continued snubbing of Thembinkosi Lorch, who is tearing it up with eye-catching performances in Morocco.
Regardless of what people think, Bafana Bafana are in a better position than they were ahead of the last Afcon, where they surprised everyone and came back home with the bronze medal. This time around, Broos’ men have been one of the best teams on the continent.
So, what does a successful tournament look like for Bafana Bafana?
During the 2023 tournament – played in January and February of 2024 – Bafana got South Africans believing again. Themba Zwane and Teboho Mokoena orchestrated from midfield, while skipper Ronwen Williams was an impenetrable rock in goal.
After the tournament, they continued right where they left off as they eased their way through qualifiers for the next Afcon and booked their spot in next year’s World Cup despite an unfortunate points deduction. They were short of sensational and caused the country to fall in love with them again.
A successful tournament has to see them go one step further and reach the final this time around. The way they have been playing, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t. And if they do well, who knows what the confidence might do to the team and country at next year’s World Cup in North America?
And perhaps that is the real promise of this squad: not just the possibility of a deep Afcon run, but the sense that South African football is finally building sustained momentum. Broos has assembled a group blending experience, form and fearless youth, and if they seize the moment, Bafana could shift from being tournament surprises to genuine continental heavyweights.
This is their chance to turn belief into expectation – and expectation into history.
IOL Sport
* The views expressed are not necessarily the views of IOL or Independent Media.
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