AFCON: Kaizer Chiefs legend pinpoints why Bafana fell short in Morocco

The post-mortem of Bafana Bafana’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign has begun, and Kaizer Chiefs legend Doctor Khumalo believes the primary culprit for the team’s Round of 16 exit is physical exhaustion.

South Africa’s journey in Morocco came to a heartbreaking end at the Agdal Medina Stadium in Rabat on Sunday night, following a narrow 2-1 defeat to Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions. The loss effectively extended the nation’s 30-year wait for continental glory, leaving fans questioning how a team tipped as title contenders fell so early.

Cracks In the Defence of Bafana At AFCON

While Bafana Bafana navigated a tricky Group B—finishing second with wins over Angola and Zimbabwe—their overall performance was largely unconvincing at AFCON. Over the course of four matches, the South African backline surrendered six goals, a defensive frailty that Khumalo suggests was a byproduct of tired minds and heavy legs.

𝗟𝗘𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗗’𝗦 𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗗𝗜𝗖𝗧

Doctor Khumalo has weighed in on Bafana Bafana’s Round of 16 exit.

Despite the defeat to Cameroon, “16v” says he is immensely proud of the squad, noting that fatigue played a major role in the Sunday clash.#AFCON2025 pic.twitter.com/jMOrcP64FB

— Mthokozisi Dube (@dube_mthoko) January 5, 2026

“I must say that I’m proud of the boys; they lost as a team,” Khumalo noted during his analysis. “But if you miss chances, you are bound to lose. They tried their best in a critical phase and scored in the 82nd minute, but they were up against an experienced Cameroon side.”

Khumalo also pointed to tactical struggles, noting that Hugo Broos’ side lacked the answers to tactical shifts and dead-ball situations at the 2025 AFCON. “We couldn’t deal with free-kicks and corners,” he added.

The “Mokoena Factor”: A Case of Burnout?

The most telling part of Khumalo’s assessment focused on the workload of domestic-based stars, specifically those from Mamelodi Sundowns. Khumalo highlighted midfield engine Teboho Mokoena as a prime example of a player pushed to the limit by a gruelling club and continental schedule.

“I was looking at some of the players—most of the South African players were fatigued,” Khumalo explained. “I looked at Teboho Mokoena against Zimbabwe and even against Cameroon; he was not the Teboho we know. He’s tired.”

Khumalo acknowledged that many of the squad members have been juggling a relentless calendar involving the Betway Premiership and the CAF Champions League. While he refused to call it an outright excuse for the loss, he identified it as the clear difference between this campaign and the bronze-medal success of the previous tournament.

As the national team returns home, the debate over player welfare and the domestic schedule is expected to intensify. With the 2027 AFCON qualifiers on the horizon, South Africa faces the challenge of managing its “golden generation” to ensure they arrive at major tournaments with enough fuel left in the tank.