South Africa's Chances at the AFCON 2025

This is the first time that the AFCON has taken place over the Christmas and New Year period. The 2025 African Cup of Nations will be held between 21 December 2025 and 18 January 2026.

Bafana Bafana last scored AFCON success as hosts in 1996, tackling their maiden tournament in style by lifting the coveted crown. Their two quarter-final AFCON appearances were surpassed by their third-place finish two years ago, when they stunned Morocco 2-0 in the last 16 knockout phase. SA succumbed to Nigeria in a semi-final penalty shootout at AFCON 2023. Yet they bounced back to see off DR Congo in the spot-kick lottery decider, following their third/fourth place play-off scoreless stalemate.

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Why Back Battling Bafana Bafana?

Bafana Bafana should arrive in Morocco full of confidence, determined to continue their momentum of fine form under head coach Hugo Broos. The Belgian oversaw their solid CAF World Cup qualifying campaign, and he is attributed with SA’s resurgence in recent years.

Broos was installed after head coach Molefi Ntseki was given the boot for failing to qualify for AFCON 2021. Broos soon restructured his ageing squad by introducing emerging stars, who remain pivotal Bafana Bafana players, to show off their silky skills.

SA qualified for this latest AFCON tournament with an unbeaten six-game record. They pipped Uganda by a single point to top their group, hitting 16 goals and only conceding five times.

It was a similar story for Bafana Bafana during their recent World Cup qualifiers. They won their group, ahead of Nigeria, to secure a berth at next year’s FIFA World Cup to end a 16-year absence from the lucrative showpiece spectacle. 

South Africa has been drawn in Group A alongside co-hosts Mexico, South Korea, and a yet to be determined qualifier from Europe.

SA Games at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations

SA will warm up for next year’s World Cup finals at AFCON 2025. They face Angola, Egypt and Zimbabwe in Group B games, with high expectations among Bafana Bafana fans of their side progressing to the knockout stages. 

They will kick off their AFCON campaign against Angola in Marrakech on 22 December. South Africa plays Egypt in Agadir on Boxing Day, and tackles Zimbabwe three days later, back in Marrakech.

Bafana Bafana AFCON 2025 Squad

Although Bafana Bafana boast a plethora of aces, there are a handful of anticipated surefire starters who can potentially showcase the team’s ambitions and confidence at the 2025 African Cup of Nations.

There are nine representatives from Orlando Pirates, with five from Mamelodi Sundowns, in the South Africa AFCON 2025 squad. The Bafana Bafana 25-player roster includes the European-based pair of defender Tylon Smith and striker Shandre Campbell, both promoted from the squad that won the Under-20 AFCON 2025 tournament in May.

• GOALKEEPERS: Sipho Chaine (Orlando Pirates), Ricardo Goss (Siwelele FC), Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns).

• DEFENDERS: Samukelo Kabini (Molde FK, Norway), Thabang Matuludi (Polokwane City), Mbekezeli Mbokazi (Orlando Pirates), Aubrey Modiba (Mamelodi Sundowns), Khuliso Mudau (Mamelodi Sundowns), Khulumani Ndamane (TS Galaxy), Siyabonga Ngezana (FCSB, Romania), Nkosinathi Sibisi (Orlando Pirates), Tylon Smith (QPR, England).

• MIDFIELDERS: Bathusi Aubaas (Mamelodi Sundowns), Thalente Mbatha (Orlando Pirates), Teboho Mokoena (Mamelodi Sundowns), Sphephelo Sithole (CD Tondela, Portugal).

• ATTACKERS: Oswin Appollis (Orlando Pirates), Shandre Campbell (Club Brugge, Belgium), Lyle Foster (Burnley, England), Evidence Makgopa (Orlando Pirates), Sipho Mbule (Orlando Pirates), Relebohile Mofokeng (Orlando Pirates), Elias Mokwana (Al Hazem, Saudi Arabia), Tshepang Moremi (Orlando Pirates), Mohau Nkota (Al-Ettifaq, Saudi Arabia).

South Africa Standouts at AFCON 2025

Captain Ronwen Williams was crowned the best keeper at the AFCON Championships 2024, which included a staggering four saves in their quarter-final penalty shootout against Cape Verde. He was nominated for last year’s prestigious Ballon d’Or awards, the world’s highest accolade for the sport off the pitch. As well as a safe pair of hands, superb reflexes and outstanding leadership skills, the Sundowns shotstopper’s calmness prevents teammates making rash challenges when under pressure.

His Sundowns team-mate Khuliso Mudau, technical and versatile, tends to slot in at right-back. With such pace and agility, he can also be employed as a right winger or as a box-to-box midfielder. 

Romania-based Siyabonga Ngezana and Pirates’ captain Nkosinathi Sibisi both possess a strong physical presence at centre-back. Ngezana, who scooped the 2023 Best South African Footballer in Europe award, is fearless and formidable around the penalty area.

Sundowns midfielder Teboho Mokoena, known for his excellent ball control and passing ability, can call upon his experience from SA’s AFCON 2023 semi-final disappointment.

Pirates attacking midfield and winger Oswin Appollis bamboozles opponents with his combination of dazzling dribbles, finishing skills and pinpoint crosses. While Premier League striker Lyle Foster fuses creativity, passes and possession to try and cause chaos for opponents.

After tasting a shock 2-0 defeat to Mali in their AFCON 2023 opener, Bafana Bafana’s defensive frailty was swiftly shored up at the biennial tournament. They went on to keep five clean sheets out of six games over 90 minutes in the last African Cup of Nations.

SA won two of their spot-kick shootouts. Yet their inability to kill off matches that they are dominating is a major weakness that needs ironing out by their tactician, Broos. This is reflected by the bookies presenting bountiful odds on Bafana Bafana attackers to be the top goalscorer at AFCON 2025, such as Foster, priced at around +80.00. As bookmakers are fluctuating between SA and DR Congo as the 10th most likely team to win AFCON 2025, it is worth shopping around for generous odds because most South African sportsbooks are currently offering prices around +40.00. 

FIFA-ranked world #61 South Africa appears to be a serious contender to bag another AFCON title. They may be outsiders to go one step better this time round by reaching the final, buy the latest prices from bookies are hovering around +17.00 for Bafana Bafana to become finalists. This will be SA’s 13th shot at AFCON, with many familiar faces from the last tournament in the Ivory Coast two years ago. The depth of the Bafana Bafana squad offers such key factors as balance, determination, experience, physical strength and technical ability. 

Although a deciding factor over star-studded opponents for Broos is his reliance on locally based players. They compete in the Betway Premiership, which should offer better cohesion compared to those teams that are trying to win by bringing in highly paid overseas stars.

10bet South Africa is a sponsor of Bafana Bafana, which is free to join and accepts South African Rand. This bookie is expected to provide highly competitive betting odds for AFCON 2025.