A dramatic Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) last-16 encounter is set for Sunday, pitting South Africa's head coach Hugo Broos against the nation he once led to continental glory, Cameroon. The match at Rabat's Al Medina Stadium is more than just a knockout tie; it's a reunion filled with narrative and high stakes for both sides.
Broos' History and South Africa's Ambitions
The Belgian tactician, Hugo Broos, is no stranger to AFCON success with Cameroon. In 2017, against all odds, he guided a depleted Indomitable Lions squad to the title in Gabon, securing their fifth continental crown with a 2-1 victory over Egypt in the final. Now, at 73 years old, his mission is to replicate that success with South Africa.
Broos has already overseen significant progress for Bafana Bafana. He steered the team to a third-place finish at the 2024 AFCON in Côte d'Ivoire and, crucially, secured qualification for the upcoming FIFA World Cup. This marks South Africa's first World Cup appearance since they hosted the tournament in 2010. They topped their qualifying group ahead of rivals Nigeria and will open their campaign against co-hosts Mexico on June 11.
Cameroon's Turbulent Path to the Knockouts
Cameroon's journey to this stage has been riddled with off-field drama. The team arrived in Morocco following a late coaching crisis. Just weeks before the tournament, federation president Samuel Eto'o dismissed head coach Marc Brys. Brys was replaced by David Pagou after overseeing Cameroon's World Cup play-off defeat to DR Congo in Rabat, which ended their 2026 qualification hopes.
Despite this turmoil, the Indomitable Lions have shown resilience on the pitch. They navigated the group stage with two wins and a draw, advancing to the knockout rounds and setting up this fateful meeting with Broos' South Africa.
Controversy and Criticism Surrounding Broos
Broos' current campaign has not been without its controversies. The coach recently apologised for alleged racist and sexist remarks linked to comments about defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi and his agent. Furthermore, he has been openly critical of the tournament atmosphere in Morocco, stating he does not feel the "typical AFCON vibe" compared to previous editions in Ivory Coast and Gabon.
On the field, Broos has expressed concerns about his team's performances. South Africa needed late goals to secure group-stage wins over Angola and Zimbabwe, and the coach has noted a worrying tendency for his players to lose concentration after taking the lead. He insists significant improvement is needed to overcome Cameroon.
A Historic Rivalry and What's Next
This match will be only the second-ever AFCON meeting between the two nations. Their sole previous clash was in the opening group match of the 1996 tournament, where host nation South Africa won 3-0 en route to lifting the trophy.
The winner of Sunday's highly anticipated tie in Rabat will advance to the quarter-finals. There, a potential showdown with tournament hosts Morocco awaits, provided the Atlas Lions overcome Tanzania in their own last-16 match. For Broos and South Africa, it's a chance to edge closer to continental glory once more, while Cameroon will be determined to prove their resilience and end the Belgian's run.
