As the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 heats up in Morocco, South Africa's national football team, Bafana Bafana, is gearing up for a highly anticipated last-16 encounter against Cameroon.
Coach Hugo Broos, who famously led Cameroon to AFCON glory in 2017, has declared that there will be "no mercy" on the pitch when the two sides meet at Al Medina Stadium in Rabat on Sunday.
Broos, reflecting on the emotional significance of facing his former team, emphasized his commitment to South Africa. "Tomorrow’s game is surely a special game for me. If you win an AFCON with a country then a part of them stays in your heart but tomorrow I can’t have mercy for them because I am the coach of South Africa now and I want to win the game," he said.
Acknowledging Cameroon's strengths, Broos added, "They are a very good team, a young team, and they have a good fighting spirit and mentality which means if we want to beat them we will have to be at our best."
The Belgian tactician expressed a preference for a later-stage matchup but remains focused on victory. "I would have preferred to face Cameroon in the final, maybe now is a little too soon. I was curious to see Cameroon with all the changes in their team and I have been surprised.
They did not have much preparation time but the coach has done a good job and for us it will be a difficult match," Broos noted.f52769 He concluded emphatically: "No mercy tomorrow! You can be sure. I have to win that game, that is all that counts."
Bafana Bafana, fresh off qualifying for this year's World Cup, are aiming to replicate or surpass their semi-final achievement from the 2024 AFCON in Ivory Coast. Broos has described the current tournament as particularly challenging due to the high caliber of competing teams.
Cameroon, despite a turbulent preparation that included the dismissal of coach Marc Brys and the appointment of David Pagou, secured seven points from nine in the group stage, showcasing their resilience.
The winner of this matchup will advance to the quarter-finals, potentially facing host nation Morocco, pending their result against Tanzania. This clash promises to be a thrilling display of African football prowess, pitting Broos' tactical acumen against the Indomitable Lions' fighting spirit.
The South African Football Association (SAFA) remains confident in the team's ability to progress and calls on fans worldwide to rally behind Bafana Bafana as they chase continental success.