BAFANA Bafana striker Lyle Foster reacts to one of their missed opportunities that cost South Africa as they were knocked out 2-1 by Cameroon from the Round of 16 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Rabat on Sunday. Ronwen Williams stood as the embodiment of Bafana Bafana’s pain after their Africa Cup of Nations journey ended in the round of 16, the captain conceding that fine margins and fading defensive standards ultimately proved costly against Cameroon. Bafana Bafana were widely viewed as one of the favourites ahead of the competition, buoyed by strong results over the past two years and a growing reputation for defensive solidity.
While early performances raised concerns, belief returned as the group phase progressed — only for familiar shortcomings to resurface at the knockout stage against Cameroon. “We are obviously disappointed because we had high hopes for ourselves,” Williams said. Bafana’s start had suggested a team ready to take control. They pressed with intensity, moved the ball sharply and carved out clear chances inside the opening quarter of an hour — opportunities that could have altered the direction of the contest entirely.
