Broos’ last chance saloon: Pirates’ Nemtajela and Makgalwa fight for AFCON ticket

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos is using Saturday’s international friendly against Zambia at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium as the final audit before he stamps his 2025 AFCON squad list.

With the Belgian tactician declaring he is “75% close” to finalising the group headed to Morocco, the match is a high-stakes, last-chance saloon for hopefuls.

All eyes are on two fresh faces: Orlando Pirates central midfielder Masindi Nemtajela and Sekhukhune United playmaker Keletso Makgalwa, who received their first national team call-ups under Broos.

International Friendly Match

⚽️ South Africa 🇿🇦 vs 🇿🇲 Zambia
🏟 Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
📅 Saturday, 15 November 2025
⏰️ 15h00
🎟 Webtickets #BafanaPride@10bet_ZA @CastleLagerSA @Shield_ZA @HonorAfrica @SABC_Sport pic.twitter.com/t5ug61sNop

— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) November 14, 2025

Broos’ Verdict on the Debutants

Broos offered a candid assessment of the duo’s integration this week, acknowledging the steep learning curve for the newcomers.

“For new players, Masindi and Keletso, it was a little bit difficult in the beginning for them,” Broos admitted. “The level is higher than what they are used to, but I think they are now fully integrated. I was happy to see them progressing during the days of training.”

The 2017 AFCON-winning coach highlighted the significant jump in quality from club football to the national team setup, noting that training demanded faster decision-making and higher technical ability.

“If you ask them the question, they will tell you that in the beginning, they were surprised by what happened at training. More quicker, more technical and asking for more from players,” he said.

The Race Against the Clock

For Nemtajela, his call-up rewards his stellar form in the competitive Orlando Pirates midfield, while Makgalwa has earned his place thanks to his creativity, highlighted by six assists in just 15 games for Sekhukhune United.

Both players know that a strong showing in Gqeberha could secure their spot on the plane to Morocco, where expectations for Bafana Bafana are exceptionally high following a successful qualification campaign.

Will They Play? Broos Prioritises the Win

While the coach is keen to give the pair an opportunity, he emphasised that his primary focus remains on securing a victory over Zambia.

“It depends on how the game will go. I want to win the game,” Broos stated, but left the door open: “If we have the opportunity to give them some minutes or more to play, we will certainly do it.”

Crucially, the time spent observing Nemtajela and Makgalwa in camp has already proven valuable for the coach’s final decision.

“I’m already happy that I called them up and I could watch them very closely everyday,” Broos explained. “How their attitude was, how they were working on training, and what their real qualities and talents are… The better the idea, the better the report about them than before this week.”

Ultimately, Nemtajela and Makgalwa’s final audition hinges on the flow of the game, but the coach’s close observation over the training period may be just as important as the minutes they receive on Saturday afternoon.