Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos believes Morocco should be labelled as favourites to win this year’s Africa Cup of Nations, which he believes will be tougher than the previous edition.
The 2025 edition kicks off on Sunday when hosts Morocco will welcome Comoros in the tournament opener.
Broos previously stated it’s his target to do better than the bronze medal at the previous tournament in Ivory Coast but he insisted that Bafana cannot be called favourites.
“It’s always very dangerous to put yourself as a favourite,” he stated in his matchday -1 press conference on Sunday.
“I think this is something that has to be done by media or by supporters. The only thing I can say is that this AFCON will be tougher than the one in Ivory Coast.
“And you know why? Because I don’t think that the big countries will make the same mistake like they did in Ivory Coast. As you remember, many big countries were not qualified or were soon out of the tournament.
“I think of Egypt, I think of Cameroon, I think of Ghana, Morocco and so on. That will not happen now. I think they learned their lesson the last AFCON.
“So that means that normally, but what is normal in a tournament like this, but normally all the big teams will be there after the group stages. So that means it will be very tough to win this AFCON.
“So I will not tell you that South Africa is favourite. I think if you can call a favourite and it’s Morocco, because Morocco is a very good team, and he’s playing at home, but all the rest, it will be a challenge.
“So we will see already, after the group stages, which teams are still there. And then maybe we can change our opinion.
“But now for the moment, you will not hear me saying that South Africa is one of the favourites.”
