Broos opts for focused AFCON prep with single friendly before tough Group B tests

As the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 in Morocco draws ever closer, Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has outlined his plans for the tournament and the careful considerations for finalising his squad.

The Belgian tactician has firmly stated that his team will play only a single friendly match before the continental showdown, opting for a more streamlined, focused approach to preparation.

The African football festival kicks off next month, with South Africa drawn into a challenging Group B alongside heavyweights Egypt, Zimbabwe and Angola. Having reached the semi-finals in the previous tournament, expectations are buoyant for a repeat performance, if not an improvement, from the national side.

Broos, who has led Bafana Bafana since 2021, expressed his reluctance to schedule additional friendly matches against African teams, suggesting that his side has gained enough experience against local opposition.

“No, we will play one game. I don’t like to play two or three games before we go,” Broos asserted, reflecting on the necessity of good preparation rather than an overload of friendly fixtures.

Continuous matches against African teams, Broos believes, offer little in terms of development for his squad.

“We played enough games against African teams, so we don’t have to play against another African team, because (it's not like) we don’t know African football,” he said, hinting that future engagements might involve matches against top-tier teams from Europe or South America, especially with the World Cup looming on the horizon.

Despite a strong performance against Zambia, which saw Bafana secure a 3-1 victory, Broos indicated dissatisfaction with some aspects of his team’s display. As AFCON looms ever closer, he is still weighing the options for his final 23-man squad, a process that is sure to involve tough decisions.

“It will be challenging to do because we have more than 23 players who can go to AFCON and deserve to go,” he acknowledged, hinting at the emotional burden of parting ways with loyal players who have been part of the team’s journey.

Broos has been exploring his options, recently granting playing time to several ‘fringe’ players during the win against Zambia. This approach not only provides invaluable experience but also keeps competition high for places within the squad.

Broos said: “I gave players who hadn’t played much in the past some minutes to see how they react and how they are adapting to the team tactically.”

With his initial group for selection now filled with talent and potential, the task of trimming it down will undoubtedly be one of the most challenging aspects of Broos’ pre-tournament preparations. As the clock ticks down to their first match against Angola on December 22 in Marrakesh, Bafana Bafana will need to hit the ground running if they hope to emulate or surpass their previous AFCON success.