South Africa’s senior men’s national team, Bafana Bafana, will host Ghana at Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto, Johannesburg, on December 16 in their final international match before departing for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco later this month.
The friendly encounter against the four-time African champions will serve as a crucial dress rehearsal ahead of AFCON 2025, which will be staged in Morocco from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026. The South African squad is scheduled to depart for North Africa on 17 December, a day after the Ghana clash.
Speaking at a media briefing recently, head coach Hugo Broos has cautioned that Bafana Bafana will no longer enjoy the element of surprise that worked in their favour at the previous AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire in 2024, where South Africa exceeded expectations to finish third and claim the bronze medal.
“We showed that we are a good team,” Broos said. “Now everyone knows it. Teams will be ready to fight against us because beating South Africa today is very different from beating South Africa two years ago.”
Broos added that his team must adapt quickly, starting from their opening group match in Morocco.
“We have to be ready from our first game against Angola. It will be like the previous AFCON, where every match was a battle,” he said.
The Ghana match is expected to provide a stern test against one of Africa’s traditional powerhouses, offering Broos an opportunity to fine-tune tactics and assess squad depth ahead of the continental tournament.
Midfielder Elias Mokwana expressed his delight at returning to the national team after an extended absence, while newcomer Tylon Smith said he was determined to seize any opportunity that comes his way on African football’s biggest stage.
Bafana Bafana’s preparations have also been strengthened off the pitch. The national team’s medical department has been reinforced with the addition of Bongani Manuku, while the technical team has expanded its analytical capacity. Senior Performance Analyst Sinesipho Mali will be joined in Morocco by Tinashe-Shingai Mukandatsama, who previously worked with South Africa’s Under-20 World Cup side.
South Africa have been drawn into Group B at AFCON, alongside Egypt, Angola and Zimbabwe, a group that promises intense competition and regional rivalry. Bafana Bafana will open their campaign against Angola on 22 December 2025.
With confidence high following recent continental success, and expectations rising across Africa, Bafana Bafana will be aiming to build on their 2024 bronze-medal finish and mount a serious challenge for AFCON glory in Morocco.
