Broos tempers expectations ahead of Bafana Bafana friendly against Ghana
Africa Cup of Nations 2025
Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos emphasises that Tuesday’s friendly against Ghana is a training opportunity, with the visitors fielding only local players, as South Africa prepares for AFCON in Morocco. Photo: Oupa Mokoena Independent Media
Image: Oupa Mokoena Independent Media
Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has tempered expectations around next week’s friendly match against Ghana’s Black Stars at Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto. The game will serve as a warm-up ahead of South Africa’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign in Morocco.
Broos has suggested that the encounter may not provide the rigorous challenge the team seeks. “The West African team will not field its strongest lineup. I will rely solely on local players because the calendar does not align with a FIFA international release window. Ghana’s international stars play in competitive leagues across Europe,” he said.
This limitation could affect the match’s intensity and reduce competitiveness. However, it offers Bafana Bafana a crucial opportunity to build team cohesion and assess tactical strategies ahead of AFCON.
Broos aims to fine-tune his squad and prepare them for the challenges that lie ahead in Morocco, where they will face several competitive teams eager to leave their mark.
“It was not easy to find a friendly game, but I am happy we found it at last. At least next week on Tuesday, we play against Ghana,” said Broos.
“We know that it will not be the best Ghana because they also have problems calling their players as it’s not a Fifa window. It means that we are playing against local players of Ghana.
"For me, this game is not a selection match. It’s just a training — a training in a game. So, it’s not so important that we play against a Ghana that is not the strongest Ghana we know.
"I’m happy that we have that game. And I think you all remember our last game before the previous AFCON against Lesotho. It was not really a very good result either. It once again demonstrates that games like those aren’t crucial.”
The squad has been in training at the High Performance Centre at the University of Pretoria since Monday. Broos acknowledges that the dynamics have shifted since the team last competed at AFCON, following Bafana Bafana’s impressive performance at the 2024 tournament in Ivory Coast.
Bafana Bafana clinched a bronze medal, setting the stage for heightened expectations and intensified rivalries across the continent.
“We showed that we are a good team. Now everyone knows that we are a good team. Everyone knows that they will have to be ready to fight against us, try to win against us,” Broos remarked.
The Belgian tactician seeks to strike a balance between confidence and realism as his side faces more formidable opposition in the tournament.
As Bafana Bafana prepare for their opening AFCON match against Angola on 22 December, they find themselves in a challenging Group B alongside tournament giants Egypt, Angola, and neighbours Zimbabwe. Early matches will be critical for establishing momentum, and Broos realises that adapting quickly will be key to their success.