AFCON 2025: Hugo Broos returns to face former side as South Africa take on Cameroon in Round 16
.jpg)
Reading Time: 4min | Sun. 04.01.26. | 11:04
South Africa hold a slight edge, with three wins to Cameroon’s one, while the remaining encounters ended in draws, statistics that add further intrigue to an already finely balanced affair
After a thrilling Saturday, 3 January, that saw Mali and Senegal secure their places in the AFCON quarter-finals, attention shifts to Sunday, 4 January, where two Round of 16 encounters are lined up.
Tanzania, Cameroon, South Africa, and host nation Morocco will all be in action, each battling for a coveted spot in the last eight of the continental showpiece.
Follow our WhatsApp channel for more news
The standout fixture will be the late kick-off clash pitting South Africa against Cameroon, scheduled for 10:00 pm at Stade Al Medina in Rabat.
It is a heavyweight duel rich in history and narrative as two proud African footballing nations lock horns, with quarter-final progression firmly in sight.
Sunday’s contest will mark the second competitive AFCON meeting between the two sides.
Their only previous encounter at the continental stage came during the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations, when South Africa emphatically dispatched Cameroon 3–0 on their way to lifting their maiden AFCON crown on home soil.
Nearly three decades later, both teams return to the knockout stage eager to write a new chapter.
For Bafana Bafana, qualification for the knockout rounds represents their seventh appearance at this stage of the Africa Cup of Nations.
Their AFCON journey includes memorable milestones: champions in 1996, runners-up in 1998, third place in 2000, and subsequent appearances in 2002, 2013 and 2019.
Cameroon, however, boast a far richer knockout pedigree.
The Indomitable Lions have reached the AFCON knockout stage a record 12 times, and the 2025 edition marks their 13th appearance.
Their history includes title-winning campaigns in 1984, 1988, 2000, 2002 and 2017, underlining their status as one of the competition’s most decorated nations.
Despite Sunday’s meeting being only their second at AFCON, the two nations have faced each other nine times across all competitions.
South Africa hold a slight edge, with three wins to Cameroon’s one, while the remaining encounters ended in draws, statistics that add further intrigue to an already finely balanced affair.
Heading into the clash, South Africa head coach Hugo Broos, who famously guided Cameroon to their 2017 AFCON triumph, struck a firm and uncompromising tone.
The Belgian tactician insisted sentiment would play no role as he prepares to face his former employers.
“If you win an AFCON with a country, there is always a little place in your heart that stays for the rest of your life, and that’s the case with Cameroon and me. It will always be there. But tomorrow I cannot have mercy on them. I want to win the game tomorrow because I am the coach of South Africa now,” Broos said while addressing the South African Football Association media.
Influential midfielder Teboho Mokoena echoed his coach’s determination, revealing that Bafana Bafana are aiming to surpass their third-place finish at the previous AFCON.
“As a team, we are excited about the game tomorrow. The talk among the players is that we must do better than we did in the last AFCON, where we finished third and won a bronze medal. We know it will be a tough game against Cameroon, but we are looking forward to it,” Mokoena said.
On the opposite bench, Cameroon head coach David Pagou acknowledged South Africa’s strengths, warning that his side will need maximum concentration to navigate the tie.
“We know that South Africa are a strong and stubborn opponent. They have a well-known league and players who have played together for a long time, so the match will be complicated. They are a good and cohesive group,” Pagou said.
“We will play to our strengths and try to make the match difficult for them. The objective is to be present in force and deliver a strong performance.” he added.
In their road to the knockout stage, Cameroon reached the Round of 16 after securing automatic qualification from Group F, recording two wins, a 1–0 victory over Gabon and a 2–1 win against Mozambique, alongside a 1–1 draw with defending champions Ivory Coast.
Those results saw the Indomitable Lions finish second in the group on seven points.
South Africa, meanwhile, advanced after finishing second in Group B, producing a spirited campaign that included wins over Angola (2–1) and Zimbabwe (3–2) and a narrow 1–0 defeat to Egypt.
Sunday’s encounter also carries an intriguing subplot, with Hugo Broos returning to familiar surroundings, albeit on the opposite touchline, as he seeks to guide South Africa past the very nation he once led to continental glory.
Cameroon will be eager to end South Africa’s six-match unbeaten run, while Bafana Bafana aim to extend it further.
Sunday Fixtures
19.00: (1.15) Morocco (8.50) Tanzania (25.0)
22.00: (3.25) South Africa (3.15) Cameroon (2.50)
Monday Fixtures
19.00: (1.48) Egypt (4.10) Benin (7.50)
22.00: (1.40) Nigeria (4.50) Mozambique (8.50)
Tuesday Fixtures
19.00: (2.00) Algeria (3.35) DR Congo (4.00)
22.00: (1.90) Ivory Coast (3.40) Burkina Faso (4.30)
***odds are subject to change***
