Bafana Bafana Eye Six Points in Crucial Afcon Qualifiers Against Congo

Bafana Bafana, South Africa’s national football team, is gearing up for two crucial Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) 2025 qualifiers against the Congo. The team begins their double-header with a home fixture at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on Friday at 7 p.m., followed by an away match at the Alphonse Massemba-Débat Stadium in Brazzaville on Tuesday at 6 p.m. South Africa time.

Hugo Broos, the head coach of Bafana Bafana, has set a clear objective for the team: to secure six points from the two matches. “We have to prepare the team very well so that we have six points from these two games. I want to avoid a stressful month of November. If we have six on six, we are qualified,” Broos emphasized.

Victory in both matches would effectively ensure South Africa’s qualification for the Afcon finals in Morocco next year. Such an outcome would place them at the top of Group K with ten points and two matches left against Uganda and South Sudan, scheduled for November 11 and 19 respectively. The top two teams from each group are guaranteed a spot in the finals.

Reflecting on past challenges, Broos highlighted the importance of avoiding a repeat of the situation three years ago during World Cup qualification. The team’s hopes were dashed by a narrow 1-0 defeat to Ghana. “Remember three years ago, the last [World Cup qualifier] game in Ghana, we had enough with one point but we lost,” Broos recalled.

Furthermore, the coach has expressed a demand for heightened performance from his players. The previous qualifiers against Uganda and South Sudan were less convincing, ending in a 2-all draw and a narrow 3-2 victory respectively. “I want to see the real SA. We didn’t see the real SA in our last two games. I wasn’t happy with the performance but I was only happy with the results,” Broos admitted.