Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos believes South Africa will enter the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations as one of the most respected and closely watched teams on the continent.
Speaking after his side’s 3-0 victory over Rwanda that sealed qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Broos said the team’s resurgence has transformed their reputation from underdogs to contenders.
At the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast, South Africa surprised many by finishing third, earning widespread admiration for their disciplined and spirited displays. Since then, they have topped Group K in AFCON 2025 qualifying and continued their strong form in World Cup qualification.
Broos, however, warned that this success means Bafana Bafana will no longer be underestimated.
“The next AFCON will be totally different from two years ago because everybody knows South Africa now,” he said. “When we went to the last AFCON, people wondered what we were going to do there. But we proved ourselves. Now, every opponent will be 150% motivated to beat South Africa.”
The Belgian coach, who guided Cameroon to AFCON glory in 2017, said his aim is to push South Africa even higher and challenge for the title in Morocco.
“It was great two years ago, but I want the same again—and if possible, more,” Broos added. “This country was too long behind others in African football. Nobody respected this team before. But that has changed now, and we have to keep moving forward. If we continue this way, South Africa can soon be at the top of Africa.”