Why Broos values Bafana success over AFCON glory with Cameroon

As Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos enters the twilight of an illustrious career, the 72-year-old Belgian tactician has offered a surprising reflection on his legacy ahead of the 2025 AFCON in Morocco.

Despite leading Cameroon to the pinnacle of African football in 2017, Broos admits that his journey with Bafana Bafana has been the more fulfilling chapter.

With retirement on the horizon following the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Bafana mentor took a moment to contrast his two most famous African stints—revealing why building from the ground up in South Africa outweighs the “ready-made” success he found in Yaoundé.

AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS

Bafana Bafana countdown to kick off!!!! 🔥 🇿🇦

⚽️South Africa 🇿🇦 vs 🇦🇴 Angola
🏟 Stade de Marrakech
⏰️ 18h00 (local time)#BafanaPride pic.twitter.com/gU0VQUfKlB

— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) December 20, 2025

Building versus Maintaining

When Broos arrived in South Africa, the national team was at a historic low. Unlike the Indomitable Lions of 2017, who were perennial favourites, Bafana Bafana were a fractured outfit with a squad largely inexperienced on the continental stage.

“When I’m honest, I think what we did with South Africa was better than what I did with Cameroon,” Broos admitted. “In Cameroon, the pressure was higher because the expectation was to win. Here, we had to build. We saw a team progress day by day.”

The statistics support Broos’ sentiment. While he won the AFCON title with Cameroon, his tenure there was volatile; just four months after their 2017 triumph, the team failed to qualify for the following edition.

In contrast, Bafana Bafana has found a rare, sustained stability under his watch. Consecutive AFCON Qualifications: A historic first for the nation. AFCON 2023 Bronze: A podium finish with a squad where 95% of the players were tournament debutants.

World Cup Return: Ending a 24-year qualification drought (excluding 2010) to secure a spot at the 2026 showpiece.

“I don’t think anyone—not even I—expected two years ago that we would be playing in semi-finals,” Broos reflected. “The progression we made was enormous.”

One Final Mission For Broos At AFCON

Broos has confirmed he will hang up his whistle after the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted across Canada, the USA, and Mexico. For a coach who has spent decades in the dugout, the objective is no longer just about silverware, but about the “perfect ending.”

“It’s still not finished. I will try to end my career with a fantastic performance in Mexico,” Broos said with a smile. “It’s very nice for me, really.”

As the “Broos Era” nears its conclusion, it is clear that while Cameroon gave him the trophy, South Africa gave him the project he is most proud of.