Trying to play it safe is what cost Bafana Bafana at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. Their tactical approach was often cagey and conservative; they did not play like a team that finished third in the previous edition. On Sunday, 4 January, Bafana Bafanawere beaten 2-1 by Cameroon in the Round of 16 match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations(Afcon) in Morocco.
The South Africans were a shadow of the team that surprised many detractors by finishing third in the 2023 Afcon. The difference? Well, several factors, the most glaring of which is that the Hugo Broos-coached team appeared intent on preserving their status as Afcon bronze medallists, rather than pushing for an improved finish.
It’s as if they felt they did not belong on the biggest stage of African soccer, that they were imposters. When South Africa embarked on that memorable run during the Ivory Coast-hosted2023 Afconno one would have bet on the team making it that far. Before that edition, Bafana Bafana had failed to qualify for four of the previous 10 Afcons.
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Even when they did qualify, they were fortunate to even make it out of the group stage. They missed out on the 2021 Afcon, which prompted the South African Football Association (Safa) to recruit Broos after firing Molefi Ntseki. The Belgian, 69 years old at the time of his hiring, was experienced on the continent.
He had guided Cameroon to Afcon success in 2017, and Safa hoped he could do the same for South Africa. He came close at the first time of asking, claiming the bronze medal two years ago. However, at the 2025 edition, the Belgian and his team regressed from that milestone performance.
They were cagey, seemingly afraid to make costly mistakes — but in the process, that’s exactly what they did. Ironically, their opponents afforded the team a similar courtesy, but the difference is that Egypt, Angola, Zimbabwe and Cameroon did not compromise their identities. Broos and his technical team were intent on altering their style and did not play with the same freedom, flair and bravery that was on display in Ivory Coast.
Instead, the focus was on defence. Against Cameroon, Broos began with an ultra-defensive lineup, which included three centre-backs and two conservative midfielders, Bathusi Aubaas and Teboho Mokoena. This defensive approach often placed pressure on the attackers to take their chances when they occurred.
But they did not always do this, which put pressure on the team. A case in point was the first 15 minutes during Bafana Bafana’s clash with Cameroon. The team had chances to take the lead, but inefficiency in front of goal proved costly as the Indomitable Lions capitalised on their opportunities to punish Broos’s men.
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