Bafana Bafana Coach Hugo Broos Chooses Zambia for Upcoming Friendly Match
The upcoming friendly will serve as the final gathering for Bafana Bafana before the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), scheduled for December and January in Morocco.
Sources indicate that Broos opted for a less intense opponent to minimize the risk of injuries, preferring a balanced challenge for his players who have had a taxing year at both club and international levels.
Zambia was selected over other potential rivals like Zimbabwe, a team that Bafana has faced multiple times in the recent past.
The two teams were part of the same group during the FIFA World Cup qualifiers and are set to clash again in AFCON Group B, which also includes Egypt and Angola.
Official confirmation of the friendly was provided in a statement by the South African Football Association (SAFA) on Friday: “FIFA World Cup-bound Bafana Bafana will face Zambia in an international friendly match to take place at home next month.”
The match is scheduled for Friday, 14 November 2025, and is a crucial part of coach Hugo Broos’ preparations for AFCON.
Details regarding the match venue and ticketing will be announced by SAFA shortly.
Bafana Bafana has been drawn in Group B for the AFCON, where they will compete against Egypt, Angola, and Zimbabwe.
SAFA further noted: “The South Africans will commence their continental campaign against Angola on 22 December 2025.”
In their last AFCON appearance, Broos' squad earned a bronze medal, defeating DR Congo 6–5 on penalties at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Côte d’Ivoire last February.
Additionally, the South African senior men’s national team has qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a 3–0 victory over Rwanda in Mbombela, Mpumalanga, last week, despite a recent three-point deduction for fielding an ineligible player during prior qualifiers.
The FIFA World Cup final draw is set for 5 December.
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