Bafana Bafana to face Hugo Broos’ former side Cameroon in AFCON Round of 16 showdown

Bafana Bafana are set for a high-stakes reunion with history in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Round of 16. South Africa will square off against five-time African champions Cameroon in a blockbuster knockout clash, with a coveted place in the quarter-finals on the line.

The 1996 AFCON winners discovered their Round of 16 opponents on Wednesday night following the conclusion of the group stage matches in Morocco. After navigating a competitive group phase, Bafana Bafana now face one of the tournament’s most decorated nations in what promises to be a thrilling encounter this weekend.

You might also like

Tuchel On World Cup Final Draw: We'll make sure that we're ready

05:38 ago

Bafana discover their Round of 16 opponents

South Africa officially learned their fate in the knockout stages after the final round of group fixtures were completed. The draw produced a mouth-watering clash between two former African champions, as Bafana Bafana prepare to lock horns with the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon on Sunday.

Adding extra intrigue to the contest is the presence of current Bafana head coach Hugo Broos, who will come face-to-face with his former employers. The Belgian tactician coached Cameroon between 2016 and 2017 and famously guided them to their fifth AFCON title eight years ago in Gabon.

Related Article

How the World Cup 2026 Is Different From Previous Tournaments

04:00 ago

Group F drama sets the stage

Cameroon sealed their place in the knockout rounds with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Mozambique in Agadir. The Mambas struck first through Geny Catamo in the 23rd minute, but Cameroon responded quickly as an own goal by Nene levelled the score just five minutes later. Christian Kofane then netted the decisive goal in the 55th minute to secure all three points for the Central African giants.

Meanwhile, in Marrakech, defending champions Ivory Coast produced one of the comebacks of the tournament, rallying from two goals down to defeat Gabon 3-2. Gabon had stunned the Elephants early, with Guelor Kanga scoring in the 10th minute and Denis Bouanga doubling the lead in the 21st.

Ivory Coast, however, showed their championship pedigree. Jean-Philippe Krasso pulled one back before half-time in the 43rd minute, while Evann Guessand dramatically equalised in the 84th minute. Deep into stoppage time, Bazoumana Touré completed the comeback, sparking celebrations for the West African heavyweights.

As a result, Ivory Coast will face Burkina Faso in a quarter-final showdown on January 6 in Marrakech, with the winner set to meet either Benin or Egypt in the next round on January 10 in Agadir.

What Hugo Broos said about Cameroon

Reflecting on his journey, Broos compared his achievements with South Africa to his AFCON triumph with Cameroon in 2017.

“When I’m honest, I think what we did with South Africa was better than what I did with Cameroon,” Broos admitted. “With Cameroon, people expect success at AFCON. But here, two years ago, nobody expected us to reach the semi-finals. That’s why this campaign means so much to me. And it’s not finished yet, not at all.”

The 73-year-old also emphasised the importance of focus and intensity ahead of the knockout stages, warning that mistakes will be punished against elite opponents.

“Against Egypt in the first half, we were soft and weak. There was no aggression,” Broos explained. “We started well against Zimbabwe but lost concentration and allowed them back into the game. Against teams like Cameroon or Ivory Coast, you cannot do that. If we play like that, we have no chance.”

What comes next?

South Africa and Cameroon will clash at the Al Medina Stadium in Rabat, with a quarter-final place up for grabs. Historically, Bafana Bafana hold a slight edge in the head-to-head record, boasting three wins compared to Cameroon’s single victory, while five encounters have ended in draws.

The winner of this eagerly anticipated Round of 16 battle will go on to face either hosts Morocco or Tanzania in the quarter-finals on January 9, as the road to AFCON glory intensifies.