Hugo Broos confronts Bafana Bafana’s tactical ‘weakness’

As Bafana Bafana prepares for a high-stakes regional derby against Zimbabwe tonight, head coach Hugo Broos has candidly addressed a recurring tactical “weakness” that has characterised South Africa’s 2025 AFCON campaign so far.

Despite sitting second in Group B with three points, South Africa’s journey in Morocco has been a tale of two halves. The national team secured a 2–1 comeback victory over Angola after a sluggish start, but followed that with a frustrating 1–0 loss to a ten-man Egypt side—a match where they dominated the second half but failed to find a clinical edge.

Thoughts from coach Hugo Broos ahead of kick-off. #BafanaPride pic.twitter.com/L3Jfq5k93x

— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) December 29, 2025

The Challenge of “In-Game” Evolution

Speaking ahead of the decisive AFCON clash at the Stade de Marrakech, Broos acknowledged that while his side is technically proficient, they struggle to shift gears when the opposition presents an unexpected challenge.

The Belgian tactician noted that while his “concept” has remained consistent for two years, the team’s inability to pivot mid-match remains a concern.

“It’s a weakness from our side that we can’t change [the way of playing] in the moment that we have to change,” Broos admitted. “But it’s also a strong point because when you see the performances of the last two years, we have been playing good football.”

Stability versus Innovation At AFCON

Broos defended his decision to stick to a rigid tactical blueprint, citing the limited time available in a tournament environment to implement new strategies. He emphasised that the national team setup does not afford the luxury of long-term experimentation.

“The strategy and the concept stay the same. When you’re with the national team, you don’t have much time to instil something; the time is too short,” Broos explained. He suggested that for Bafana to succeed, they must rely on the players’ ability to execute the existing plan more efficiently rather than overhauling the system.

The Road to the Round of 16 At AFCON

The stakes for tonight’s 18:00 kickoff against Zimbabwe couldn’t be clearer. After the mixed results against Angola and Egypt, South Africa finds itself in a position where they control their own destiny.

Bafana Bafana requires at least a draw to guarantee their spot in the AFCON Round of 16. However, against a motivated Zimbabwean side, Broos will be hoping his team can find their rhythm in the first half—rather than waiting for the second-half surges that have defined their tournament thus far.

For the South African faithful, the hope is that the “good football” Broos prides himself on will finally be matched by the tactical flexibility required to navigate the knockout stages.

🚨MATCH DAY 🚨

AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS

GROUP B

⚽️ Zimbabwe 🇿🇼 vs 🇿🇦 South Africa
🗓 29 December 2025
⏰️ 18h00 (SA time)
🏟 Stade de Marrakech #BafanaPride pic.twitter.com/gRoW7e8Ek6

— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) December 29, 2025