Hugo Broos’ biggest omissions: A look at Bafana’s AFCON snubs

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos’ announcement of his final 25-man squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Monday has sparked significant debate, not for those who made the cut, but for the high-profile, impactful players left out.

The former Cameroon coach reduced his 54-man preliminary list, but the names omitted suggest a willingness to gamble on form and future planning over proven experience and current contribution.

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has named his final squad for this month’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morroco. Mduduzi Shabalala, Iqraam Rayners and Thabo Moloisane are on standby. The team will assemble in the coming days. #BafanaPride@CastleLagerSA @SABC_Sport pic.twitter.com/5xAOwcP8uM

— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) December 1, 2025

The Midfield Maestro: Themba Zwane

The omission of Themba Zwane, Mamelodi Sundowns captain and national team vice-skipper, is arguably the biggest talking point.

The Status: Zwane, 36, is one of the most decorated and influential players in the Betway Premiership. His exclusion is a clear signal from Broos that the national team is aggressively transitioning.

The Justification: Broos appears to have justified the snub due to Zwane’s recent injury woes, despite his return as a second-half substitute in a recent CAF Champions League tie. Sacrificing the deputy captain—a player known for his creative genius and calmness on the ball—due to an injury-plagued year is a massive call that will put immense pressure on his replacements.

The Experienced Duo: Rayners and Maswanganyi

The forward line exclusions are equally perplexing, sidelining two players who were either in strong form or had seemingly cemented their place in previous squads.

Iqraam Rayners (Sundowns): Despite proving himself to be a lethal striker, Rayners failed to make the final squad, being relegated to the standby list. Broos’ decision here is a question of pure goal-scoring form versus tactical fit.

Patrick Maswanganyi (Orlando Pirates): Perhaps the player who will feel the most hard done by is Maswanganyi. The Orlando Pirates attacker, who at times looked to have cemented his place in Broos’ team, was left out entirely. His absence suggests a sudden change of heart from the coach regarding a player he had previously integrated.

The Entire Kaizer Chiefs Contingent

A shocking and unprecedented omission is the complete exclusion of any player from Kaizer Chiefs.

Zero Representation: Not a single Kaizer Chiefs player made the final 25, a situation that will undoubtedly infuriate the club’s massive fanbase.

Near Misses: While Brandon Petersen, Bradley Cross, and Mduduzi Shabalala were in the preliminary squad, all were dropped. Shabalala’s inclusion on the standby list offers minimal consolation for a club that has historically provided the backbone for Bafana Bafana.

Other Notable Snubs

The list of exclusions highlights a clear preference for those who have fully grasped the coach’s philosophy, even if it means overlooking players with strong current statistics.

The European Freeze-Out: Europe-based central defender Ime Okon was also overlooked, suggesting Broos prioritises his locally-based core.

Overlooked Form: Sekhukhune United midfielder Kelets0 Makgalwa was snubbed despite registering six assists in 16 games across all competitions, a statistic that screams contribution and form.

Local Drops: The initial squad saw the dropping of Sundowns duo Thapelo Morena and Malibongwe Khoza, and Pirates trio Kamogelo Sebelebele, Masindi Nemtajela, and Patrick Maswanganyi.

Broos’ Defence: A Philosophy Over Form

Coach Broos defended his choices, emphasising that the tournament demands players who understand his system and have the necessary qualities to adapt.

“First of all, the quality is the most important thing… The other way you also have to look at it is that, when something is happening, what are the options I have to change? The tactics, you change, maybe the way of playing,” Broos told SABC Sport.

Broos’ statement suggests his criteria go beyond current goal tallies and assists, prioritising tactical flexibility and power—a lesson he claims to have learned from the previous AFCON tournament. However, by leaving out key figures like Zwane and Rayners, the coach has placed a huge bet on his selections, with any failure at the tournament certain to bring these exclusions under intense scrutiny.