South Africa’s long wait for another Africa Cup of Nations title will stretch to 30 years after Bafana Bafana were eliminated from AFCON 2025, falling 2–1 to Cameroon in their Round of 16 encounter.
The highly anticipated clash carried extra intrigue as South Africa head coach Hugo Broos faced his former side, Cameroon, having boldly promised “no mercy” ahead of the knockout tie.
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On the pitch, however, it was the Indomitable Lions who once again demonstrated their pedigree on the continental stage.
Cameroon struck first in the 34th minute when Junior Tchamadeu found the net with a right-footed finish following an assist from Samuel Kotto, giving the five-time champions an early advantage.
The Indomitable Lions doubled their lead shortly after the restart. In the 47th minute, Christian Kofane rose highest to head home from a delivery by M. Nagida, putting Cameroon firmly in control of the contest.
South Africa pushed for a response and were rewarded late in the game. In the 88th minute, Evidence Makgopa pulled one back for Bafana Bafana, tapping in from close range after a precise assist from Aubrey Modiba to make it 2–1 and set up a tense finish.
Despite the late surge, South Africa were unable to find an equaliser, and the final whistle confirmed another knockout-stage exit. The defeat means Bafana Bafana will now go three decades without an AFCON title, their last triumph dating back to 1996.
For Cameroon, the victory underlined their experience and resilience in tournament football, as they marched into the quarterfinals and kept alive hopes of adding to their rich AFCON history.
From Morocco to Soweto, South Africa’s AFCON journey ends in disappointment once again, while Cameroon continue their march deeper into the competition with authority and belief.
