AFCON: Why Cameroon coach Pagou fears Bafana’s ‘telepathic’ unity

As the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) shifts into the high-stakes theatre of the knockout rounds, Cameroon head coach David Pagou has delivered a sobering assessment of the challenge awaiting his side: they aren’t just facing a team; they are facing a machine.

Ahead of Sunday evening’s blockbuster Round of 16 clash at Al Medina Stadium, Pagou labelled Bafana Bafana as the “most cohesive team” in the tournament. It is a calculated show of respect for a Bafana Bafana squad that has found its rhythm under a man who knows the Cameroonian soul better than most: Hugo Broos.

The Broos Factor: A Heart Divided

The narrative hook of this fixture is impossible to ignore. Hugo Broos, the tactical architect who led an unfancied Cameroon to AFCON glory in 2017, now stands in the opposite dugout.

“If you win an AFCON with a country, there’s always a little place in your heart that stays for the rest of your life,” Broos admitted during the pre-match briefing. “But tomorrow I can’t have mercy. I am the coach of South Africa now.”

For Pagou, Broos’ intimate knowledge of the “Indomitable Lions” culture makes Bafana Bafana a “stubborn” and dangerous opponent.

Battle of the Runners-Up At AFCON

Both giants arrive in Rabat having navigated tricky group stages as runners-up. Cameroon (Group F): Finished with seven points, unbeaten but trailing holders Ivory Coast on goals scored. South Africa (Group B): Secured six points, highlighted by a gritty 2-1 win over Angola and a 3-2 thriller against Zimbabwe.

Despite Cameroon’s five continental titles, history suggests they have a “Bafana problem.” In nine official meetings, the Lions have tasted victory only once—a friendly back in 1992. South Africa remains unbeaten in their last seven encounters against Cameroon, a psychological edge that Broos will surely exploit.

While South Africa’s strength lies in a core group of players who have matured together over several years, Cameroon’s journey to the last 16 has been characteristically turbulent.

Just weeks before the tournament, the federation was rocked by the sacking of Marc Brys by legend-turned-president Samuel Eto’o. Pagou, thrust into the spotlight, has had to build “peace in the camp” in record time.

“They have truly reached a high level of collective play,” Pagou noted of South Africa. “In my opinion, they are the most cohesive team in this competition. It will be a very difficult match, but it is a point of pride just to be here.”

The stakes couldn’t be higher. The victor of this “Clash of the Titans” is likely to face tournament hosts Morocco in the quarter-finals, provided the Atlas Lions overcome Tanzania.

For David Pagou, the mission is simple but daunting: disrupt the cohesion of the most organised team in Africa and prove that the Indomitable Lions’ roar is loudest when their backs are against the wall.