Bafana Bafana has the opportunity to advance to the round of 16 in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) by playing against Egypt on Friday.
After a 2-1 victory over Angola in their first Group B match, Bafana is in a favourable position to qualify for the next round. Goals from Oswin Appollis and Lyle Foster secured three points for Hugo Broos and his team in Morocco.
Their next match will be against Egypt on December 26, followed by a clash with neighbouring Zimbabwe on December 29.
How can Bafana qualify for the round of 16?
A win or a draw against Egypt on Friday should be sufficient for them to secure a place in the last 16. A win will almost guarantee them the top spot in Group B, while a draw will leave them with four points, which greatly increases their chances of advancing.
If they lose to the Pharaohs, Bafana will need to either defeat Zimbabwe or earn a draw to qualify for the round of 16. However, consecutive defeats could result in elimination from the tournament.
Finishing at the top of the group would be advantageous, as it would likely lead to facing weaker opponents in the round of 16.
This early advantage could prove beneficial in later stages against stronger teams such as Morocco, Senegal, and Algeria.
This marks the first time since 2004 that South Africa has won their opening match in the AFCON. Unfortunately, in that tournament, they did not progress to the next round despite collecting four points in their group.
With the expansion of this year’s tournament, Bafana’s chance of advancing to the round of 16 is significantly improved.
Any positive result in their next two matches should see them through to the next round for the second consecutive season.
The last time they were eliminated in the group stages was in 2015 under coach Shakes Mashaba.
