Bafana Bafana Knocked Out of AFCON 2025: Heartbreak in Rabat

RABAT, Morocco – Despite a dominant performance for much of the match, Bafana Bafana were eliminated in the Round of 16 of the AFCON 2025 following a narrow 2-1 defeat to the "Indomitable Lions" of Cameroon.

Match Recap: Dominance Without Reward

South Africa started with a drive to close the chapter on Cameroon, controlling nearly 66% of possession and registering 18 attempts at goal. Early in the first half, rising stars Relebohile Mofokeng and Lyle Foster both had golden opportunities to put Bafana ahead, but a combination of clinical Cameroonian defending and a lack of finishing touch kept the game scoreless.

The narrative shifted in the 35th minute when Cameroon scored against the run of play. A deflected shot from Danny Namaso fell perfectly for Junior Tchamadeu, who fired past Ronwen Williams to give the Lions a 1-0 lead.

2nd Half Surge

Cameroon doubled their advantage immediately after the restart (48') when teenage forward Christian Kofane connected with a textbook header from an Aboubakar Nagida cross.

Hugo Broos’ men refused to go down without a fight, pinning Cameroon into their own half for the final 30 minutes. The pressure finally told in the 88th minute when substitute Evidence Makgopa turned in a low cross from Aubrey Modiba, setting up a frantic five minutes of stoppage time. However, Cameroon’s veteran defence held firm to see out the result.

Game Overview

Stat	South Africa (RSA)	Cameroon (CAM)
Goals	1 (Makgopa 88')	2 (Tchamadeu 35', Kofane 48')
Possessions	66%	34%
Shots (On Target)	18 (6)	7 (4)
Corners	9	3

The Verdict

While the result marks a premature exit for the 2023 bronze medalists, the tournament has been a showcase for South Africa's tactical growth under Hugo Broos. The "locally-based" strategy proved it could compete with Europe-based stars, though the old nemesis—failing to convert dominance into goals—ultimately proved to be their undoing.

Post-Game Comments

Coach Hugo Broos felt the result did not reflect the flow of the match, specifically pointing to the team's strong start in Rabat:

"I think we started the game very well and created two or three chances early on. At that moment, I felt we were the better team. Cameroon mainly played on the counter-attack. On the goal they scored, they were a bit lucky... the ball was blocked, fell again, and they finished."

The Belgian tactician also noted that the quick second goal from Cameroon was the psychological turning point for his side:

"Conceding so quickly after halftime was difficult. Suddenly, we had to score two goals. It cuts the legs, so to speak. We still had chances even after making it 2-1, but they defended very well. I can’t be unhappy with the game we played today, but it’s a big disappointment."

While the post-match atmosphere was sombre, influential midfielder Teboho Mokoena had highlighted the team's mindset heading into the knockout rounds, reflecting the focus that drove their late-game surge:

"The team is excited... we are striving to improve and collectively working together in progressing the team."

Captain Ronwen Williams echoed the coach's need for clinical finishing throughout the tournament. Following the earlier loss to Egypt, which set the tone for their tough path, he urged the team to maintain their identity:

"We take the lessons, we take the good things and we move, continue believing in this team."

What's Next for Bafana?

With their AFCON campaign over, South Africa will turn their focus back to the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers later this year. Cameroon, meanwhile, moves on to a massive Quarter-Final clash against the host nation, Morocco, this Friday.