Bafana Bafana’s Final AFCON Warm-Up Venue Confirmed

South Africa’s senior men’s national team, Bafana Bafana, has confirmed their final warm-up fixture before heading to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.¹

The team will host Ghana at the Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto on Tuesday, 16 December, with kick-off scheduled for 16:00 (South Africa time).²

The squad will depart for Morocco the following day, ahead of the continental tournament which runs from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026.

Coach’s Outlook and Squad Additions

Head coach Hugo Broos emphasized that Bafana Bafana will no longer benefit from the “surprise element” they had at the previous AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire, where they secured a bronze medal. He expects competitors to be well-prepared this time.

“Now everyone knows, everyone knows that we are a good team, and everyone knows that they will be ready to fight against us… So it will be something different and I think we have to adapt ourselves from our first game already against Angola that we are ready.”

The team also welcomed back midfielder Elias Mokwana and newcomer Tylon Smith, who expressed his readiness to seize any opportunity during the tournament.

The team’s backroom staff has been expanded with the addition of Bongani Manuku to the medical team and Tinashe-Shingai Mukandatsama joining the performance analysis department alongside Sinesipho Mali.

AFCON 2025 Group Stage Schedule

Bafana Bafana is placed in Group B and will compete against Angola, Egypt, and Zimbabwe.³

Here is their group stage fixture list (All times are South Africa):

Bafana Bafana Squad for AFCON 2025