Bafana Bafana have made it to the last 16 stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) here in Morocco, but their performance as a team and from individuals has been inconsistent. In their three Group B matches, they had to dig deep to beat Angola and Zimbabwe in their opening and closing games, both 2-1 in Marrakesh. They were never in total control in either and lost 1-0 to 10-player Egypt in the middle match in Agadir that had VAR drama.
Coach Hugo Broos has admitted some of his players have not performed up to usual standards. Mahlatse Mphahlele, covering the 2025 Afcon for Arena Holdings in Morocco, rates the Bafana players as they prepare to take on defending champions Ivory Coast or Cameroon Sunday’s last 16 clash in Rabat. He will not be happy with four goals conceded, but he has been solid between the sticks.
He has tried to make the team play from the back and has made some crucial saves. Apart from being sent to the cleaners by attacker Tawanda Mashwanhise in the build-up to Zimbabwe’s opening goal, the US-bound ‘TLB’ has probably been the stand-out performer for South Africa. Hugo Broos reiterates that Mbekezeli Mbokazi should be going to Europe.pic.twitter.com/Bc9VhgSluO He had some nervous moments under pressure and in one-on-one situations, but the Romania-based centreback has done a fairly good job alongside new central defensive partner Mbokazi.
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One of the leaders in the group, the ‘Postman’ has gone about his business effectively and without much fanfare. He is having a good tournament in the left-back position he has made his own. He was unfortunate to concede the penalty — an officiating call that met with criticism from many quarters afterwards — against Egypt for striking Mohamed Salah in the face for the goal that won the match for the Pharaohs in Agadir.
Apart from that, ‘Sailor’ rarely puts his foot wrong and is a Bafana stalwart for his runs forward, clean tackles and excellent reading of the game. He held his own against tougher and experienced opponents, but there is something in the locker room of ‘Tebza’. If Bafana are to progress to the latter stages, Mokoena is going to be crucial for their ambitions and needs to find a higher gear, far closer to what he showed in Ivory Coast helping South Africa win bronze just under two years ago.
He did not have the best of games against Zimbabwe and was rightfully substituted in the second half. But he is another campaigner who is not praised enough for the destroying work he does in the heart of the midfield.
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