Broos prioritises AFCON glory over historic unbeaten streak

While Bafana Bafana continues to rewrite the history books, head coach Hugo Broos is keeping his eyes firmly on the trophy rather than the statistics.

South Africa kicked off their 2025 AFCON campaign with a gritty 2-1 victory over Angola at the Grand Stade de Marrakech on Monday night. The win propelled Bafana Bafana to a record-extending 27 matches unbeaten—the longest streak in the nation’s history (excluding the administrative points deduction during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers).

Despite the milestone, Broos was quick to temper expectations during the post-match briefing.

Focus Remains on the “Big Prize” – AFCON

Following the win, South Africa sits at the summit of Group B, tied with heavyweights Egypt, who also secured a 2-1 victory over Zimbabwe. For Broos, the streak is a point of pride, but ultimately a secondary concern.

“This is a nice record. But it’s not less or not more, so I don’t look at that,” Broos told the media. “The more matches we remain unbeaten, the closer we get to a defeat. This is normal. We aren’t playing just to extend a run; we are playing to win a tournament.”

The coach emphasised that the team’s current philosophy is built on winning individual battles rather than protecting a number. This was evident in the second-half performance against Angola, where Bafana showed resilience to secure all three points.

In Group B, the standings are currently neck-and-neck following the opening round of matches. Both South Africa and Egypt sit at the top of the table with three points each and an identical goal difference of +1, thanks to their respective 2-1 victories. Trailing behind are Zimbabwe and Angola, both of whom have yet to register a point and carry a goal difference of -1 after their narrow opening-day defeats.

“If you ask me what I want—more games unbeaten or winning AFCON—I think you already know what I will answer,” Broos added. “For me, it is not about the numbers; it is about the trophy.”

What’s Next for Bafana Bafana At AFCON

The record will face its toughest test yet this Friday. South Africa is set to face Egypt in a high-stakes AFCON clash that will likely determine who finishes at the top of Group B.

With Lyle Foster currently in top form—fresh off his Man of the Match performance against Angola—South African fans are hopeful that the “philosophy of winning” can overcome the Pharaohs.