After missing out on the previous edition in Cameroon two years
ago, Bafana Bafana will be making an appearance in Ivory Coast for
AFCON 2024.
This will be South Africa’s 11th
AFCON appearance since their debut in 1996.
For clarity’s sake, this year’s competition is officially named
AFCON 2023 since it was initially scheduled to take place last year
but was postponed until January-February 2024.
South Africa AFCON 24 schedule –
knockouts
Bafana advanced to the knockout phase after finishing as the
runner-up in their group.
They clashed with 2022 FIFA World Cup semi-finalists Morocco in
the Round of 16, winning by two unanswered goals.
Hugo Broos’ men defeated Cape Verde in the quarter-final on
penalties, booking a place in the semi-final of the Nations Cup for
the first time in 24 years.
South Africa were dealt an injury blow after Thapelo Maseko was
ruled out for the rest of the tournament after picking up a
hamstring injury during the quarter-final win against Cape
Verde.
South Africa will meet three-time AFCON champions Nigeria in the
semis, the same opponents they faced the last time they reached the
last four in 2000.
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Here’s Bafana Bafana’s schedule in the knockout stages of AFCON
2024:
30 January, 9pm: Morocco vs South Africa, Laurent Pokou
Stadium, San Pédro – Round of 16.
3 February, 9pm: South Africa vs Cape Verde,
Charles Konan Banny Stadium, Yamoussoukro – quarter-final.
07 February, 6 pm:
Nigeria vs South Africa, Stade de la Paix, Bouaké –
semi-final.
South Africa AFCON 2024 schedule –
Group stage
The
Hugo Broos-led side finds itself in
Group E with Mali, Namibia, and Tunisia as opponents. Bafana
Bafana will kick off their tournament against Mali on 16 January,
then face Namibia five days later before playing their final group
game against Tunisia on 21 January.
16 January, 9pm: Mali – South Africa, Amadou Gon Coulibaly
Stadium
21 January, 9pm: South Africa – Namibia, Amadou Gon Coulibaly
Stadium
24 January, 6pm: South Africa – Tunisia, Amadou Gon Coulibaly
Stadium
How did South Africa qualify for AFCON
2024?
During the qualifiers, South Africa placed second behind
Morocco. South Africa won two games and, with one drawn game and
lost one, accumulating seven points in the process.
Day 1: Morocco-South Africa (2-1)
Day 2: Cancelled
Day 3: South Africa-Liberia (2-2)
Day 4: Liberia-South Africa (1-2)
Day 5: South Africa-Morocco (2-1)
Day 6: Cancelled
South Africa’s last 10 games before
AFCON 2024
In their ten games, Bafana Bafana have won four, drawn five and
lost one.
Rwanda-South Africa (2-0) – 2026 World Cup Qualifiers
South Africa-Benin (2-1) – 2026 World Cup Qualifiers
Ivory Coast-South Africa (1-1) – Friendly
South Africa-Eswatini (1-1) – Friendly
South Africa-DR Congo (1-0) – Friendly
South Africa-Namibia (0-0) – Friendly
South Africa-Morocco (2-1) – CAN 2023 Qualifiers
Liberia-South Africa (1-2) – CAN 2023 Qualifiers
South Africa-Liberia (2-2) – CAN 2023 Qualifiers
South Africa-Angola (1-1) – Friendly
Can South Africa cause a stir at AFCON
2024?
South Africa have won the Africa Cup of Nations once, and that
was in 1996 and were runners-up two years later. A third-place
finished followed in 2000, but since then, South Africa have only
achieved quarter-final appearances in the 2002, 2013, and 2019
editions.
The basis of this South African team is made up of players of
CAF Champions League heavyweights Mamelodi Sundowns. The Brazilians
had 10 of their players named in Broos’ list.
The expectation for South Africa may be lower than many teams in
the tournament, which could be freeing in a way. Since missing out
on the last AFCON, the Belgian coach has strengthened the depth of
his squad with some excellent talent and they could very well be a
fit that will help the team in Ivory Coast at AFCON 2024.
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South Africa coach: Hugo Broos
Broos is a seasoned coach. The 71-year-old Belgian, a former
international defender with the Red Devils (24 caps), embarked on
his coaching career in 1988, working in Belgium, Greece, Turkey,
Algeria, and even Kuwait, before taking the helm of the Indomitable
Lions (2016-2017). In fact, he was in charge when Cameroon won AFCON in
2017.
He then briefly returned to Belgium (at KV Ostend in 2019)
before assuming the role of head coach of Bafana Bafana in May
2021.
Although he didn’t manage to qualify the South African team for
the 2022 World Cup, the coach has achieved a commendable record
since his arrival, with 11 victories, six draws, and two defeats.
The qualifying phases for AFCON 2024 were quite successful.
It’s worth noting that with a monthly salary of 50,000 euros,
the septuagenarian ranks fifth among the highest-paid coaches in
the tournament.
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Player to watch: Percy Tau
Bafana Bafana will be counting on the ingenuity of Al-Ahly
forward Percy Tau at AFCON 2023. The 29-year-old forward has
already scored 14 goals in 38 appearances for South Africa since
making his debut in 2017. In the ongoing season, he has scored six
goals in 18 games for his Egyptian club across all
competitions.
Tau is his nation’s biggest talent and everything seems to run
through him for South Africa. Tau is the hub of activity for South
Africa in attack: He controls passing lanes, puts a cork in
opposing defences and organises the team with his distribution and
work rate.
The Al- Ahly man has a huge role to play in South Africa’s
quest to make it out of a difficult group. Tau’s performances for
Ahly have been a breath of fresh air, tinged with sunshine and
rainbows.
And, he’s able to translate his easy-going mentality to the
international stage, with his performances for Bafana Bafana as
good a showcase of his talents as any. At the lowest points, it was
his name that helped quell the tears. And now here he is, expected
to restore Bafana Bafana to international glory.
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South Africa final AFCON Squad for
AFCON 2024
Broos has named his final 23-man squad for the tournament.
Conspicuously missing from Broos’ final list is Burnley striker
Lyle Foster, who was not selected at his club’s request after he
spent some time away from football.
Also absent is Kaizer Chiefs’ goalkeeper Bruce Bvuma and
defender Given Msimang. Orlando Pirates’ winger Monnapule
Saleng missed out due to limited game-time, while USA-based
forward Bongokuhle Hlongwane was also left out.
The exclusion of Premier Soccer League joint top goal-scorer
from last season, Khanysa Mayo, was also surprising, with coach
Broos favouring Zakhele Lepasa and Evidence
Makgopa from Orlando Pirates. Polokwane
City attacker Oswin
Appollis and Stellenbosch’s Jayden Adams
surprisingly make the cut, as Lebo Mothiba had already
been ruled out due to injury.
Goalkeepers
Ronwen Williams, Veli Mothwa, and Ricardo Goss
Defenders
Sydney Mobbie, Grant Kekana, and Terence Mashego, Nkosinathi
Sibisi, and Aubrey Modiba, Siyanda Xulu, Mothobi Mvala, Khuliso
Mudau
Midfielders
Teboho Mokoena and Siphephelo Sithole, Jayden Adams, Thabang
Monare, Thapelo Maseko, and Thapelo Morena
Forwards
Themba Zwane, Zakhele Lepasa, Oswin Appollis, Mihlali Mayambela,
Percy Tau, and Evidence Makgopa.
Source link : https://www.afrik-foot.com/en-ng/south-africa-afcon-2023-squad-fixtures-opponents
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Publish date : 2024-02-07 08:00:00
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