Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has dismissed any notion of a relaxed approach as his team prepares to face South Sudan in their final Group K 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier on Tuesday evening at the DHL Cape Town Stadium.
The South African national team secured their AFCON qualification last week, but Broos emphasized that this match is far from a friendly. With top spot in the group at stake, he is calling for another inspired performance and hopes to see a packed stadium to cap off a successful year for the team.
“This is not a friendly game. It is an important game because we want to remain top of the group,” Broos said.
“We also want to put on a show for the crowd. We had two amazing evenings in Bloemfontein and Gqeberha with great crowds and nice wins, and we want to do it again in Cape Town. Wrapping up the qualifiers at the top of the group would be the cherry on top.”
South Sudan faces a tough challenge, arriving in South Africa with only 15 players due to financial constraints that limited their ability to book flights for the entire squad. Despite these hurdles, coach Nicolas Dupuis remains optimistic and praised Bafana Bafana’s recent performances.
“South Africa is now one of the top five or six best teams in Africa,” Dupuis said. “We are playing without any professional players, only local players. But my players have good spirits, and we will give our best despite the challenges.”
The match promises to showcase Bafana Bafana’s ambition to maintain their momentum as one of Africa’s rising teams. A win would solidify their position at the top of Group K and set the tone for their preparations for the AFCON tournament in Morocco next year.
Kickoff at the DHL Cape Town Stadium is scheduled for 7:30 PM, with fans expected to provide a vibrant atmosphere in support of the national team.
