Bafana qualify for AFCON 2025 as Sudan shock Congo

Bafana Bafana qualified for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finals (AFCON) on Thursday without kicking a ball.

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South Sudan’s 3-2 win over Congo-Brazzaville in Juba means that Hugo Broos’ side cannot finish lower than second in Group K and will be on the plane to Morocco at the end of next year.

No Bafana resignation for Broos

Broos’ talk of resignation if Bafana failed to qualify has also now been rendered null and void. The Belgian’s comments last week always appeared low-risk, with a spectacular set of results required for Bafana not to make it to the finals.

The result in Juba completely takes the pressure off Bafana and Uganda, who meet at the Mandela National Stadium in Kampala on Friday. Uganda lead Group K with ten points, while Bafana are in second on eight.

Congo-Brazzaville can now only reach a maximum of seven points, while Sudan’s win on Thursday gave them the only points they have managed in qualifying up to now.

Uganda can seal top spot in the group with a first ever win over Bafana. A sell-out crowd is expected to cheer the Cranes on, and Paul Put’s side have reason to be confident after coming within seconds of defeating Bafana at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha in September.

Broos can now decide whether he wants to use today’s match to experiment in any way, with important Fifa World Cup qualifiers coming up in March of next year. It is more likely that Broos’ priority will be for Bafana to win the group, which they can guarantee with a win in Kampala, and another against South Sudan at the Cape Town Stadium on Tuesday.

With this in mind the Bafana head coach is likely to stick with his strongest possible team, with Mamelodi Sundowns defender Mothobi Mvala set for a return in central defence, alongside Kaizer Chiefs’ Rushwin Dortley.

Makopa or Rayners?

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Masandawana’s Khuliso Mudau and Aubrey Modiba are the top candidates to continue in their full back roles, while Sundowns pairing Teboho Mokoena and Bathusi Aubaas have formed a solid partnership in central midfield.

Patrick Maswanganyi could replace an injured Themba Zwane in the playmaker role. While Oswin Appollis and Elias Mokwena are likely to continue on the wings, it could be that the physicality of the game in Kampala means Evidence Makgopa is preferred to Iqraam Rayners in attack.