Broos believes Bafana Bafana are now the hunted

by Staff Reporter

Thursday Oct 16, 2025. 12:54

Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos believes that, due to the nation’s recent footballing success, South Africa will have a target on its back at the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

At the last edition of the tournament in 2023, Bafana Bafana caused a stir, finishing third and surprising the continent in doing so.

South Africa qualified for the 2025 AFCON with relative ease, topping group K in qualification with 14 points collected from four wins and two losses.

Bafana Bafana’s success has continued as they secured qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup by topping group C of the Africa qualifiers with a 3-0 win over Rwanda on the final matchday on Tuesday.

Broos believes that other teams at the upcoming AFCON in Morocco will now be aware of the talent and ability of the South African side, viewing them as a marker to chase.

“I can say already now that the next AFCON will be totally different than the AFCON two years ago, because everybody knows South Africa now,” said Broos, speaking after his side’s win on Tuesday.

When we went two years ago to AFCON, there were many people who were asking themselves, ‘What are they going to do in AFCON with those players?’ But we did it. And I think there were opponents also there in AFCON that thought the same thing. ‘Wow, South Africa, wow’. This will not be the case anymore now. It will be from the first game, it will be an opponent who will be 150% motivated because they want to beat South Africa. So we have to be prepared [for] that.”

The 73-year-old’s aim for the competition is to lead Bafana Bafana back to the podium and potentially to the top of the pile.

“It was nice two years ago, you can be sure. And you can believe me, I want the same thing. And if it’s possible, more,” he said.

Broos believes that Bafana Bafana performances have earned the team the respect of the continent and the nation has the ability to dominate continental football in the years to come.

“If we can make that step again, and then we go to the World Cup, I think it will not be a long time before South Africa will be at the top of Africa. And this is something we have to try to achieve. Because this nation was too long, too long, somewhere behind there. And nobody did have any respect for this team, or for this country. I think this has changed now.”

By Nic Gleeson