Bafana Bafana are gearing up to face Angola in their opening match of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025. The game is set for the Stade de Marrakech in Morocco, just four days away.
South Africa will land in North Africa this week after a highly respectable third-place finish at AFCON 2024 in the Ivory Coast. They edged DR Congo 6-5 on penalties in a thrilling bronze medal showdown at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan on 10 February 2024.
RELIVING AFCON 2024
Bafana Bafana’s journey in the 2024 tournament was a rollercoaster of highs and lows. South Africa stumbled out of the blocks with a 2-0 loss to Mali in their opening Group E match. However, the 1996 champions bounced back. It was with a commanding 4-0 win over Namibia.
And then the last group game. It was a 0-0 draw against Tunisia to seal their place in the final 16 round.
In the following battle, Bafana Bafana shocked tournament favourites Morocco with a 2-0 victory. Teboho Mokoena buried the game with a sublime free kick after Evidence Makgopa’s opener.
The quarter-final against Cape Verde was a tense and goalless battle. South Africa edged it 2-1 in a penalty shootout, booking a spot in the semi-finals. It was the night of the now iconic Ronwen Williams show with four penalty saves.
The semi-final clash with Nigeria went to penalties after a tight match, with Bafana falling 4-2. But the team bounced back in the bronze medal match, defeating DR Congo 6-5 on penalties to claim third place and end the tournament on a high.
Bafana Bafana’s 2024 AFCON run reminded the continent of South Africa’s pedigree. South Africa were champions of Africa in 1996 and the losing finalists in Burkina Faso in 1998.