Hugo Broos made four massive changes to his Bafana Bafana side at AFCON, and it didn’t pay off. Is an exit at the Round of 16 good enough?
A quartet of personnel changes, accompanied by a tweak to the formation, have South Africa talking.
Broos’ Bafana Bafana gamble doesn’t pay off in wasteful AFCON 2025 exit
Samukelo Kabini, Nkosinathi Sibisi and Bathusi Aubaas replaced Aubrey Modiba, Sphephelo Sithole, and Tshepang Moremi in a rejigged Bafana XI that lined up in a 3-4-3 formation with Sibisi operating alongside Siya Ngezana and Mbekezeli Mbokazi in defence. There was also a start for Relebohile Mofokeng alongside Oswin Appollis and Lyle Foster in attack. After this 2-1 defeat, Bafana failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their matches at AFCON 2025.
Bafana Starting XI: Williams; Ngezana, Sibisi, Mbokazi; Mudau, Mokoena, Aubaas, Kabini; Appollis, Mofokeng, Foster
Bafana Bafana crash out of AFCON
Excerpt from a match report from Siseko Gwegwe:
South Africa opened the match with neat passing and good tempo, while Cameroon looked to impose themselves physically.
An early foul on Teboho Mokoena gave South Africa a promising set-piece, with Oswin Appollis curling a free-kick that asked questions of the defence. Lyle Foster then went close, firing just wide.
Clear chances followed. Relebohile Mofokeng was played through in the seventh minute, but lifted his effort over the bar.
Moments later, Samukele Kabini also failed to keep his shot down.
Cameroon’s first real opening came in the 10th minute when a loose ball fell for Christian Kofane, but the forward could not control it.
Lyle Foster briefly thought he had scored in the 12th minute, only for VAR to rule the goal out for offside. Cameroon then dropped into a deeper shape, allowing Bafana more of the ball.
The visitors had a short spell around the 22nd minute, but South Africa’s defence dealt well with the pressure.
The breakthrough came in the 33rd minute. After a scramble in the box, Junior Tchamadeu reacted quickest to send a low shot past Ronwen Williams.
