Bafana Bafana Coach Hugo Broos Explains Why He Remains Positive After Defeat to Cameroon
- Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has picked out the positives from South Africa's loss to Cameroon on Sunday night
- South Africa are now out of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after losing in the Round of 16 and missing out on the chance to face the host nation in the next round
- South African football fans also shared their opinion on social media regarding Bafana Bafana's performance against the Indomitable Lions
Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has shared his thoughts on the team’s elimination from the Africa Cup of Nations following their loss to Cameroon on Sunday, January 4, 2026.
Source: Getty Images
South Africa bowed out of the tournament after a 2-1 defeat to the Indomitable Lions in Sunday night’s Round of 16 encounter.
Bafana Bafana headed into the competition as one of the favourite teams to win it, and they started brightly with a win over Angola before stumbling in their next match against seven-time AFCON champions, Egypt. They ended the group stage with a narrow win over Zimbabwe to secure a place in the Round of 16.
Broos was hoping to get past his former side, but the Indomitable Lions proved too strong for Bafana Bafana as they picked up the quarter-final ticket, where they would face the host nation, Morocco.
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Broos on why he's not unhappy
Despite the result, Broos found positives in his team’s first-half performance, especially after implementing four changes from the squad that beat Zimbabwe.
“You know, after halftime you get a second goal so quickly, then that cuts the legs in the way of speaking and then we went on and fought for it, we had chances, we could’ve scored earlier 2-1 and then get the 2-2, and you saw what happened in the last ten minutes.
“We just kicked the ball in front, and they defended well, and OK, it’s a disappointment certainly for every one of us, but I can’t be unhappy with the game we played today."
Fans took to social media to share their thoughts on Bafana Bafana's performance against Cameroon and being knocked out of the AFCON in the early stages.
Source: Getty Images
Nyasha Mahachi said:
"He was busy complaining heeeee Morocco this Morocco that, while Cameroon was preparing well against them. He was worried about Morocco before he beat Cameroon. What a joke that is?"
Rachoshi Sipho Nthesa shared:
"What if Hugo Broos is still a coach of Cameroon 🇨🇲 and he's working as an undercover coach here in South Africa 🤔😫😫"
Mpho Bopapa-Boko Leshabane commented:
"What went wrong is when that other fan base started calling our National team Bafana ba Pirates. We all know how they always choke in CAF competitions!"
Kabelo Ashly Nthekiso lamented:
"Today's national team is divided along team lines. When it wins, it's Orlando Pirates or Mamelodi Sundowns, when it loses blames shifts to a single team. This has never happened in the national team before. Further, the segregative approach by the coach is an issue that needs to be taken seriously. The omission of certain on-form players is a cause for concern. If we are going to continue treating the national team as competition among domestic clubs, then unfortunately, we are bound for failure in every competition."
Khaya Racaza wrote:
"Instead of 3 centre backs, we could have used 3 central midfielders, Mbatha, Teboho and Sthole, with Moremi and Appollis out wide. Anyway, hard luck, boys."
Khumo Kujane added:
"Almost like Hugo Broos was using Afcon to prepare for the World Cup...Trying to build a new play, I never seen Bafana play like that before."
Broos explains why Bafana lost to Cameroon
Briefly News earlier reported that Broos explained why Bafana Bafana lost to Cameroon in their AFCON 2025 Round of 16 clash.
The Belgian tactician failed to get past his former side, as the Indomitable Lions match on to the quarter-finals of the competition.
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Proofreading by Kelly Lippke, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.
Source: Briefly News
