22.02.2026
Latest

Renowned commentator backs Bafana to send Cameroon packing in Rabat

9 mins



  • Bafana Bafana in Marrakech, Morocco.

The Round of 16 fixtures of the 2025/26 Africa Cup of Nations tournament have now been confirmed.

South Africa will be up against five-time champions, Cameroon, in Rabat on Sunday evening.

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos guided the Indomitable Lions to one of their five titles eight years ago. And respected Ghanaian football commentator, Philip Atsrim, says that with Broos now in their dugout, Bafana have nothing to fear.

There are some mouth-watering encounters lined up in the Round of 16, which could just provide the spark the tournament has lacked so far. The first knockout round kicks off on Saturday with Senegal taking on Sudan, followed by Tunisia against Mali.

Fans are expected to pack the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat when host nation Morocco face off with Tanzania on Sunday. Then it’s South Africa versus Cameroon also in the capital, but at the Agdal Medina Stadium. And Atsrim, who has covered every AFCON tournament since Angola 2010, backs Bafana Bafana even though Cameroon has superior AFCON credentials.

“I think South Africa has what it takes to beat Cameroon because I find South Africa better organised team than Cameroon who can be frantic, a bit more expansive, they can be all over the place but they’ve got firepower above them. They can be unpredictable when they play. I think South Africa is more disciplined. If they can tighten up a bit at the back, they can find some joy because they are scoring. South Africa is creating chances. If they can keep their defense solid enough, they’ve got what it takes to beat Cameroon, who have a new group of players who still need to gel a little bit. But at the AFCON it’s Cameroon. When you watch the AFCON you see Cameroon. You can never write them off, they’ve got a very good team. So, it’s going to be a tricky one, I think South Africa can get through. Cameroon can be very unpredictable,” says Atsrim.

Atsrim says what counts in Bafana’s favour is that they’ve reached the semi-finals in the Ivory Coast in 2024. But there are at least five other teams who now fall in the “favourites category”.

“All the big teams have qualified to the next stage, so you’ve got four or five teams that are capable of winning the competition. Nigeria, obviously, they are looking strong. They were in the final last time. Algeria seem to be back from the slump they had in the last two tournaments and they are looking good. Then you’ve got Egypt, they know how to play the AFCON. They’ve got Salah, they’ve got Marmoush if they find their balance, they can be tricky. Of course, the hosts Morocco they have their fans behind them, they’ve got quality players they are one of the favourites, then Côte d’Ivoire who are the defending champions, and then there is South Africa, many people are not paying attention to but they went all the way to the semi-final last time out, very good. The bulk of that team they are still here, they will rely on their experience they can go far. Also have teams like Cameroon who look like they are sleeping but in tournaments like this you can find them waking up, so you’ve got about five teams or six top teams that are capable of winning the AFCON that is why it’s making it more exciting coming into the knockout stages,” adds Atsrim.

There were no major surprises in the group stage, but Atsrim says anything is possible in the knockout rounds.

“I think the tournament has been exciting in a kind of sense that people expect two things. People in the tournament love the upsets, they love the underdog story but what is exciting is what is presented to us now, because in this competition we have not seen the upsets quite a lot. So, all the big teams have made it to the next round so the next round promises to be more exciting because then all the top teams some of the favourites of this competition can battle it out that’s where the excitement is there for me,” says Atsrim.

And Bafana Bafana keeper Sipho Chaine agrees.

“That’s the beauty of African football when you come to Africa, when you play in the African competition there are very big dark horses and there are very like you might say the big nations but when you come up against each other it’s a very difficult game. It’s a very difficult competition to win and I mean like you said watching Comoros in their opening game it was not an easy game for the hosts, and that’s what you expect throughout the tournament,” says Chaine.

The Round of 16 will be completed next Tuesday with the quarterfinals scheduled to be played from the 9th of January.

VIDEO | Bafana backed to beat Cameroon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYi9TIc5mTI

Related News