South Africa’s national men’s team, Bafana Bafana, is set to face South Sudan in their final Group K fixture of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 qualifiers on Tuesday evening at Cape Town Stadium.

The game marks the culmination of a successful qualification campaign for the South Africans, who are yet to lose a match in the group stage. Head coach Hugo Broos, reflecting on 2024, has described the year as a triumph for South African football.

“We try to win every game. We don’t play to lose; we want to win every game,” he stated. The Belgian tactician emphasised the importance of finishing top of the group, adding that while qualification is already secured, anything less than first place would be a disappointment for the team.

South Africa and Uganda both confirmed their places at the AFCON 2025 tournament in Morocco under unusual circumstances. Sitting in their respective hotels in Kampala, the teams learned that South Sudan had pulled off a stunning 3-2 victory over Congo Brazzaville last Thursday.

The result mathematically secured the qualification spots for Group K, sending South Africa and Uganda through. A day after this development, Bafana Bafana solidified their position with a commanding 2-0 win over Uganda in Kampala. The victory, thanks to second-half goals from Thapelo Morena and Patrick Maswanganyi, propelled South Africa to the top of the group standings.

Tuesday’s clash against South Sudan is not a mere formality for Bafana Bafana. Finishing as group winners would not only boost team morale but also ensure a better seeding for the AFCON 2025 group stage draw. With South Africa’s qualification campaign showcasing consistency and dominance, topping Group K would underline their readiness to compete among Africa’s elite teams.

South Sudan will not be an easy challenge for South Africa. The Bright Stars are riding high after their recent 3-2 win over Congo, a match where Ebon Ezibon scored twice, and Data Elly added another to secure victory. South Sudan also boasts an unbeaten streak of three matches, including positive results against Kenya in the African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers last month.

The last time South Africa faced South Sudan, it was a tightly contested encounter in Juba. Bafana Bafana narrowly won 3-2, thanks to a brace from Oswin Appollis and a dramatic injury-time winner by Thalente Mbatha. The Bright Stars will be eager to avenge that defeat and end their qualifiers on a high note. With 19 nations already qualified, including powerhouses like Senegal, Nigeria, and Egypt, the final round of matches will determine the remaining five spots.

South Africa’s inclusion marks their steady return to the continental stage after mixed performances in recent years. Other qualified teams include Algeria, Morocco, and the hosts, Ivory Coast, as well as surprise entrants such as Comoros and Zimbabwe. The top two nations from each group advance, setting the stage for an exciting AFCON tournament in December 2025.

For South Africa, the final game against South Sudan is about more than just finishing top of the group. It’s an opportunity to build momentum, test strategies, and solidify team cohesion ahead of the tournament.

With Hugo Broos at the helm, Bafana Bafana will aim to carry their qualification success into the competition proper, hoping to replicate or even surpass their 1996 AFCON triumph. The game at Cape Town Stadium promises to be a spectacle, as fans rally behind their team in what has been a remarkable year for South African football.