Historic clash: Bafana Bafana take on Cameroon in AFCON 2025 knockout stage

South Africa’s Bafana Bafana and Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions will face off in the CAF 2025 Round of 16, rekindling a historic rivalry.

The much-anticipated match kicks off at 9pm (SA time) on Sunday at Al Medina Stadium in Rabat. It will likely be an exhilarating showdown as these two African giants battle for a place in the quarter-finals.

Historic rivalry: This match marks the second encounter between South Africa and Cameroon at AFCON. Their only prior AFCON clash was during the 1996 tournament, where South Africa triumphed 3-0, earning their first continental title.

Previous meetings: The teams have met a total of nine times, with South Africa winning three, Cameroon one, and five draws. Cameroon’s sole victory over South Africa came in a friendly match in 1992, making them the underdogs in this matchup.

Coaching connections: Current South African coach Hugo Broos once managed Cameroon, leading them to their fifth AFCON title in 2017. Broos oversaw matches against South Africa during AFCON 2017 qualification, both of which ended in draws.

South Africa’s recent performances: South Africa enters the match with an impressive record, unbeaten in their last seven games against Cameroon. They have kept three clean sheets and scored in eight of their nine encounters, showcasing formidable attacking capability.

AFCON statistics: South Africa has won two of three group matches in this tournament, aiming to secure three wins at a single AFCON for the first time since 2000. They are yet to concede a goal in the Round of 16 matches and are looking to reach the quarter-finals for the seventh time.

Key players to watch: Lyle Foster and Oswin Appollis have been crucial for South Africa, with both scoring twice. Foster has contributed to four of the team’s goals in this tournament, while Appollis has had standout performances against Zimbabwe.

Cameroon’s group stage summary: Five-time AFCON champions Cameroon qualified for the knockout rounds after displaying resilience with a comeback victory against Mozambique. They scored four goals in the group stage, their fewest since 2019, while their defence has shown improvement, conceding only two goals.

AFCON knockout history: This marks Cameroon’s fifth consecutive appearance in the knockout stage of AFCON. They hope to advance to the Round of 16 for the second time ever, and their historical performance suggests they could be a formidable opponent.

What they’re saying: Coaches and players are emphasising the importance of maintaining composure and capitalising on previous encounters. Both teams have shown resilience, with South Africa unbeaten in their last several matches against Cameroon.

Between the lines: South Africa cannot afford to underestimate Cameroon, despite their historical edge. The Indomitable Lions will be looking to break their recent run of draws against Bafana Bafana and secure a victory to advance to the quarter-finals.