Bafana Bafana’s preliminary squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has been announced. Bafana coach Hugo Broos made the announcement on Monday afternoon, with the final 23-man squad expected to be confirmed next week. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has set a deadline of 11 December for all final squad submissions ahead of the tournament to be hosted by Morocco from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026. Broos’ men were drawn in Group B, alongside Angola…

African Times has picked 10 players that have done enough to convince Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos to include them in his squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco. Bafana Bafana’s opening match of the tournament will be against Angola on 22 December in Marrakech, followed by a clash against Egypt on 26 December in Agadir, before they conclude their group stage assignment when they challenge neighbours Zimbabwe, also in Marrakech. “It’s not difficult (to select the 23-man…

Bafana Bafana mentor Hugo Broos is not at all bothered by keyboard warriors as he continues to guide South Africa’s senior football national team. The 73-year-old has been at the helm since 2021, and not only has Bafana Bafana improved on the FIFA rankings (position 75 to 59), but the team finished third in the last edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), as well as qualifying for the FIFA 2026 World Cup. Despite this, Broos has had his…

At 32 years old, Thembinkosi Lorch’s hopes of a return to the Bafana Bafana fold have been dashed. The Wydad Casablanca forward has been performing admirably, leading to calls for his return to the national team setup. He has nine Bafana Bafana caps, with his last appearance coming about two years ago. This season, he has three goals and three assists in seven matches in the CAF Confederation Cup and Botola Pro League. However, this has done nothing to convince…

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has named the squad to face Zambia in a friendly international next month. Broos has picked 36 players in the preliminary squad, which will be trimmed to 23 players in the coming days. Bafana Bafana will host Chipolopolo at a venue yet to be confirmed on 14 November, during the FIFA international break. Both teams will use the friendly as part of their preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which kicks off in…

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has explained how he managed to put together a group of players that helped South Africa qualify for the FIFA 2026 World Cup. This is the first time South Africa has directly made it to the global showpiece since the 2002 World Cup. The country was part of the 2010 World Cup, but as hosts. “I know you have not always agreed with the choices I made, and I said already that I have a different…

In less than a year from now, South Africa will bid farewell to one of the country’s finest-ever coaches, Hugo Broos. The Belgian is the toast of town after guiding Bafana Bafana to the FIFA 2026 World Cup. The 1996 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winners finished top of Group C, despite being docked three points, ahead of Nigeria and Benin. The last thing the country wants to hear now is that Broos, who signed a five-year contract in 2021,…

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos says the team is now certainly on the back foot in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers after a goalless draw against Zimbabwe in Durban. Broos’s men dominated for the better part of the match at Moses Mabhida Stadium, but Zimbabwe, the home team, held firm. The result means Bafana Bafana remain second in Group C with 15 points from nine matches, two points behind the leaders, Benin, with one match remaining. “I think we tried…

Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has called on footballers to make moves that are of benefit to their careers rather than a hindrance. Broos was responding to questions surrounding the non-selection of certain players, including Mamelodi Sundowns duo Jayden Adams and Fawaaz Basadien, who left Stellenbosch FC when they were regulars in the national team. “(Jayden) wanted to go to Sundowns, but he doesn’t play. He should have stayed in Stellenbosch or chosen another option if he had another…

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos says he is not overly concerned that winger Relebohile Mofokeng is not in top form this season. The 20-year-old had retained his place in the Bafana Bafana setup, ahead of the FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Zimbabwe (October 10) and Rwanda (October 14). However, the Orlando Pirates attacker has been withdrawn due to injury and replaced by Mduduzi Shabalala of Kaizer Chiefs. On national team duty, Mofokeng was benched against Lesotho and Nigeria last…