South Africa coach Hugo Broos arrives at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco as a singular figure among his peers – the only man in charge of a team at the 2025 tournament who has already lifted the trophy.
At 73, the Belgian is the elder statesman of the competition, a grandfather whose authority is rooted not in noise or bravado but in experience. In 2017, Broos guided Cameroon to Afcon glory against the odds, overcoming the absence of several key players to defeat Egypt in the final in Libreville.
Eight years on, he believes that pedigree still matters, even as he urges caution around expectations for his South Africa side.
“Last year we were not among the favourites and lost our opening match to Mali,” Broos said this week. “There were suggestions on social media from some South Africans that the pilot of our jet should keep the engine running because we would soon be heading home.
“Well, the engine had to be turned off because we went all the way to the semi-finals.”
South Africa ultimately finished third in Ivory Coast, losing to Nigeria on penalties in the last four before beating DR Congo, in the third-place play-off. It was a performance that exceeded expectations and restored belief in a national team that had often flattered to deceive over the past decade.
That success has altered the landscape heading into Morocco. South Africa, who have not won the competition since Clive Barker’s side triumphed on home soil in 1996, are no longer flying under the radar. Drawn in Group B alongside Angola, Egypt and Zimbabwe, Broos knows his players will be targeted.
“Because we were the bronze medallists a year ago, our opponents will be extremely motivated to beat us,” he said.
Broos has been widely credited with stabilising South African football, not only by leading Bafana Bafana to successive Afcon tournaments but also by securing qualification for the 2026 World Cup. There, they will face co-hosts Mexico, South Korea and a European side in Group A, marking a significant milestone in his tenure.
Yet the Belgian remains adamant that the Africa Cup of Nations demands humility and precision, particularly in the opening matches. He has repeatedly stressed the importance of South Africa’s first group game against Angola in Marrakesh.
“Losing your first group match puts you under immediate intense pressure,” Broos said. “Your second match becomes a must-win affair. Were we to fail against Angola, we would then need to beat Egypt, a nation that has been champions a record seven times and is led by Mohamed Salah.
“We dare not underestimate Zimbabwe either. They may be the lowest ranked team in our section, but they always raise their game against us.”
Broos is one of seven coaches returning from the previous edition of the tournament, alongside Sebastien Desabre of DR Congo, Chiquinho Conde of Mozambique, Juan Micha of Equatorial Guinea and Morocco’s Walid Regragui. Belgian compatriot Tom Saintfiet has switched from Gambia to Mali, while Ivory Coast-born Eric Chelle has moved from Mali to Nigeria.
In total, there will be 14 African coaches at the tournament, nine from Europe and one from South America, with Argentine Miguel Gamondi in charge of Tanzania. History suggests the odds are against Gamondi, with only one South American coach – Brazil’s Otto Gloria with Nigeria in 1980 – having won the Afcon.
Ivory Coast, Algeria injury blows
While Broos plots South Africa’s route through the competition, defending champions Ivory Coast have been forced into an unwelcome late change. Striker Sebastien Haller has been ruled out of the tournament after sustaining a hamstring injury in a Dutch league match.
Haller’s absence is significant both on and off the pitch. The forward scored the winning goal in last year’s final as Ivory Coast, hosts of the tournament, came from behind to beat Nigeria 2-1 in Abidjan. That moment capped a remarkable personal journey, with Haller having returned to football only months earlier after treatment for testicular cancer.
Ivory Coast have named Aston Villa forward Evann Guessand as his replacement, increasing the number of Premier League-based players in the Elephants’ squad to five as they attempt to retain the title in Morocco.
Elsewhere, Algeria have been forced into a late squad change after Saudi Arabia-based midfielder Houssem Aouar withdrew with an undisclosed injury sustained in training. Ligue 1 player Himad Abdelli of Angers has been called up in his place ahead of Group F matches against Sudan, Burkina Faso and Equatorial Guinea in Rabat.
