Bafana Bafana look to shift gears in high-stakes Cameroon test

With the knockout stage set and the last 16 in place, the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finds its heartbeat. For Hugo Broos and Bafana Bafana, the march toward history begins.

The calendar year 2025 drew to a close as a memorable period for Bafana, a team long searching for consistency and results. Their qualification for the Fifa World Cup later this year highlights the progress made, and the focus now turns to kicking off the new year with success, aiming for only their second AFCON triumph. 

The group stage offered glimpses of potential but also exposed areas that require sharpening if South Africa are to go deep into the competition.

Bafana will face a stern challenge in the knockout phase, taking on Cameroon at the Agdal Medina Stadium on Sunday (9pm kickoff). 

The clash will see one-time champions South Africa aiming to improve on their third-place finish in the previous tournament, while the Indomitable Lions, having exited in the round of 16 last edition, will be eager to not only surpass that performance but also pursue their sixth AFCON title.

Both sides enter as strong contenders to lift the trophy, but the road ahead promises to be one of the toughest yet potentially most rewarding. Here, we examine three key talking points heading into this heavyweight encounter.

Nothing much between the two sides

Historically, the fixture has been tightly contested. In their last four meetings, South Africa hold a slight edge with a 3–2 friendly win in 2008, while the last three matches, including two AFCON qualifiers in 2016, all ended in draws. 

Cameroon enter the clash with high expectations as tournament favourites, ironically facing a South African team now led by Broos, who helped them secure the 2017 title. 

Bafana, ranked just two spots behind Cameroon (ninth) in the Fifa Caf region standings, have shown marked improvement in recent years but will confront a side steeped in AFCON history and familiar with winning at the highest level.

Run into the last 16

Bafana advance from the group stage with two wins and one loss, but all their results exposed vulnerabilities, particularly conceding four goals—gaps that Broos will be keen to address ahead of the clash against his former side.

With ambitions to lift the trophy, the last 16 presents the perfect opportunity for South Africa to find their rhythm, especially as the tournament intensifies and more organised and formidable opponents lie in wait.

Cameroon narrowly missed out on topping their group due to head-to-head records and enter the knockout stage undefeated, setting up a stern test for Bafana in the round of 16.

Consistency and performance concerns

Bafana have struggled to find top gear, with Broos acknowledging that some players have not fully met expectations. Adjustments may be necessary, given the limited margin for error in the knocko ut stages.

Bathusi Aubaas impressed after replacing Sphephelo Sithole at halftime in the 3–2 win over Zimbabwe, highlighting the importance of impactful substitutes in the side’s tactical setup.

Questions remain over whether Siyabonga Ngezana is the ideal partner for the industrious Mbekezeli Mbokazi. While the team may need more physical presence against a robust Central African side, Relebohile Mofokeng, arguably their most creative player, could be key to unlocking Cameroon’s defence and should be given the opportunity to influence the game.