Former Bafana Bafana coach Gordon Igesund was not impressed by the national team’s performance in their 2025 AFCON Group B tie against Zimbabwe, but refuses to rule them out against Cameroon.
South Africa face the Indominable Lions in a Round of 16 showdown at Al Medina Stadium on Sunday. With a quarter-final place at stake, this is a swim-or-sink confrontation between the two sides.
After claiming bronze at the 2023 AFCON edition in Ivory Coast, Bafana set the bar high for themselves to go further this time around by reaching the final. But Cameroon now stand in their way.
The Central Africans themselves have much to play for, especially appeasing their fans following failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It is the same global football showdown that could be pushing Bafana players in Morocco.
AFCON serves as a significant World Cup audition for South Africa players, who are under intense scrutiny to determine if they possess the necessary qualities for big tournaments. But they stuttered against Zimbabwe, a match they needed a lucky penalty to win 3-2, especially after showing vulnerability at the back.
It is a match that left coach Hugo Broos unimpressed and Igesund as well, is not expecting a similar showing when they face Cameroon.
IGESUND UNIMPRESSED BUT HOPEFUL BAFANA CAN WIN AFCON AFTER CAMEROON CLASH
“I wasn’t impressed by Bafana against Zimbabwe. Broos didn’t mess around, although it was a difficult result. They got the result they needed, but it was hard,” Igesund told FARPost.
“Cameroon are a very physical team and they have done it before [winning AFCON]. But I’m hoping Bafana get to the final. This is an important tournament for them and a big opportunity for players to show that they deserve to go to the World Cup.
“They just need to improve from the way they played against Zimbabwe. Maybe taking that match as a big lesson to correct themselves and have a big chance against Cameroon.
“Bafana are also very capable of winning it. They have a coach who believes in his players. They have proven a lot of things over the past couple of months. Cameroon are used to these big games, so let’s see what we can do.
“Broos knows his players and how to get the best out of them. Let’s just take it one game at a time.”
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