AFCON 2025: All you need to know about South Africa

The country

Capital: Pretoria

Area: 1,219,912 million km2

Population: 64.01 million inhabitants

Official language: Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, English

Inhabitants: South Africans / South African

Motto: "Unity in diversity"

Nickname of the team: The Bafana Bafana

South Africa and the CAN
Title: 1

Final: 2

Participations before AFCON 2025: 11

Host Country: 2 (1996 - 2013)

Course at the AFCON
1996: winner

1998: finalist

2000: third

2002: quarter-final

2004: eliminated in the first round

2006: eliminated in the first round

2008: eliminated in the first round

2013: quarter final

2015: eliminated in the first round

2019: quarter-final

2023: third

Assessment at the AFCON
47 matches played

18 victories

16 nuls

13 defeats

52 goals scored

41 goals conceded

Relebohile Mofokeng, likely revelation in Morocco

Like Ronwen Williams at AFCON 2023 in Côte d'Ivoire, Relebohile Mofokeng could be the South African revelation at AFCON 2025, in Morocco. Only 21 years old, the left wing has been proving himself at Orlando Paris for a few years. He is in exceptional shape before approaching the next African Cup of Nations. 

Dribbler, scorer and decisive passer, Mofokeng has everything to shine in Morocco. Having scored a goal and 3 assists in 17 games with the Pirates this season, the native of Sharpeville is in a real collective to hit a shot and reveal himself even more to the general public. The past season, due to his great performances, he was followed by FC Barcelona. Despite many desires in Europe, he continues his progress in the local championship, one of the best on the continent. 

Hugo Broos, the hidden secret?

Winner of the 2017 AFCON with Cameroon, Hugo Broos proves once again that he is a very good technician. The Belgian coach is behind the renewal of the Bafana Bafana. He was appointed coach on May 5, 2021, a few months after the team’s non-qualification for the  2021 edition in Cameroon. Since his arrival, things have been going well with laudatory results. 

With Hugo Broos (73), South Africa makes a quick return to the African Cup of Nations. Not being among the favorites at the 2023 AFCON, the Bafana Bafana surprised by finishing with the bronze medal. Insatiable, the team continues to increase in power with notably the qualification for the 2026 World Cup. 

Present at the 2025 AFCON with ambitions, South Africa fell into group B with Egypt, Angola, and Zimbabwe.  The Bafana Bafana play their first match against Palancas Negras (Angola) on December 22, 2025 at 17h GMT, at the Marrakech stadium.