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Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos and his technical team.
With Bafana Bafana having reached the semifinals of the previous Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, coach Hugo Broos is aiming higher in the next edition in Morocco.
The Belgian coach says anything less than a semi-final berth should be considered a failure. Bafana surprised all and sundry when they reached the semifinals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast.
It was the first time in 22 years they reached that stage of Africa’s most prestigious tournament.
This time, Bafana are in Group B alongside record seven-time winners Egypt, Angola and Zimbabwe for the tournament in Morocco, that will commence in December.
“No South African will be happy if we come back home after the group stages if we don’t reach the semifinals because we did it. Our ambition is to do as good as the last time atleast and we will see where it ends.”
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Bafana Bafana coach says for them to achieve their goal and reach the semifinals of this year’s Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Morocco, he would have loved the domestic league to be suspended a few days earlier.
The Carling Cup final will be played on the 6th of December, which might hamper his team’s preparations for the tournament starting on 21 December.
But Broos is relieved that Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs are already out of the tournament, and is also mischievously hoping that Orlando Pirates will not make it to the final.
“I am very happy, and I am sorry that I saying this. I am happy that Sundowns is out as well as Chiefs. I am also hoping that Pirates will be out as well and then the players can rest as it is so difficult when you are asking months before the programme is made that we are going to Afcon, and the coach is asking to stop the competition 4 days early so they did not do it two years ago they did not do it now.”
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— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) November 6, 2025
Bafana Bafana are likely to go to travel to next month’s Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Morocco without their inspirational captain, Themba Zwane, The 36-year-old has reported picked up another injury and has hardly played any competitive football this year.
Coach Hugo Broos has basically given up hope on Zwane being fit enough to play in Morocco.
“With Themba, he is injured again. I don’t know if Themba will play anytime soon. I think we have to g=forget him he did not play all season so I think for Afcon, it will be very difficult for Themba. But I am still hoping for next year but we will see.”
Broos also said in-form veteran Thembinkosi Lorch, from Wydad Athletic club in Morocco and the young Shandre Campbell from Club Brugge in Belgium would not be considered for Afcon.
