Bafana Bafana’s preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations [AFCON] tournament got a boost after securing an international friendly match against Zambia.
The match is slated for November 14 in South Africa at a venue yet to be finalised by SAFA. Bafana will be preparing for the AFCON finals to be hosted by Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
Hugo Broos and his men go into this friendly match against the 2012 African champions, fresh from qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. However, Zambia are coming from a difficult campaign in the World Cup qualifiers where they finished fourth in Group E, topped by Morocco.
The Atlas Lions led Chipolopolo by a distant 15 points after winning all eight qualifying games, as Zambia recorded three wins and five defeats. Led by former Chelsea manager Avram Grant, Zambia will again face Morocco in Group A at AFCON.
Now, Bafana will be gearing themselves for AFCON, where they are drawn in Group B against Egypt, Angola and Zimbabwe.
After claiming bronze at the last edition in Ivory Coast in 2024, South Africa will be bidding to do better in Morocco. This is after they last won AFCON in 1996 as hosts, the only time to be crowned Kings of Africa.
BROOS’ MUCH-ANTICIPATED BAFANA AFCON SQUAD
The Bafana squad for the continental tournament is expected to be announced before Broos travels for the World Cup draw to be conducted on December 5 in Washington DC.
“I’m a Bafana Bafana coach and I will talk to him [Mbekezeli Mbokazi], certainly when we’re in AFCON. I will have the time. Hope he listens,” Broos hinted at including the Orlando Pirates defender in his squad.
The Belgian also commented on Relebohile Mofokeng’s form for the Buccaneers. “Why is Rele not at the level he was last year? It’s very clear, they made him crazy!” said Broos.
“You can’t ask a guy at the age of 20, that he can say yes, I’m concentrating on football, not what those guys are telling me, I’m not listening. At the end, you listen, and this is normal; you can’t blame Mofokeng for that.”
South Africa will go into camp on December 8 to start preparing for AFCON with a camp in Pretoria.
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