Mofokeng’s AFCON verdict: Pirates star shoulders blame for Bafana’s exit

Orlando Pirates sensation Relebohile Mofokeng has delivered a sobering verdict on South Africa’s 2025 AFCON departure, explaining that his failure to convert a golden opportunity was a defining factor in Bafana Bafana’s Round of 16 exit.

The national team’s continental journey came to a grinding halt on Sunday night at the Al Medina Stadium in Rabat, where the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon secured a 2-1 victory.

Despite a late consolation goal from Evidence Makgopa, South Africa was unable to overcome a clinical Cameroonian side that struck in each half to punish the wastefulness of the South Africans.

A Tactical Gamble and Missed Moments at AFCON

Head coach Hugo Broos surprised many by adopting a conservative, “reinforced” defensive structure, deploying a back five featuring Nkosinathi Sibisi, Siyabonga Ngezana, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Samukele Kabini, and Khuliso Mudau. With Teboho Mokoena and Bathusi Aubaas sitting as defensive anchors, the plan was to stifle Cameroon and strike on the break.

The strategy initially yielded results, as Bafana carved out high-quality openings in the first half-hour. However, the verdict on the match was ultimately decided by clinical finishing—or a lack thereof. Both Lyle Foster and Mofokeng squandered point-blank opportunities that could have fundamentally shifted the game’s momentum.

Mofokeng’s Honest Thoughts: “I Should Have Scored”

The most glaring miss occurred as early as the eighth minute. Mofokeng, handed his first start of the tournament after limited minutes in the group stages, found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper after a pinpoint ball from deep. To the shock of the travelling supporters, the young winger ballooned his effort over the crossbar.

After the AFCON match, a dejected Mofokeng shared his thoughts on the miss that effectively ended Bafana’s Moroccan campaign.

“I think that [missed] chance could have opened the game for us. I take responsibility that I should have scored,” Mofokeng admitted. “We created many chances and just needed to use them. I think it’s not the first time we’ve chased the game, but we’ve kept believing we can go beyond the Last 16, but it was not to be.”

While the 2025 AFCON exit marks a premature end for a squad that aimed to build on its 2023 bronze-medal success, Mofokeng explained that the team must not abandon its style of play despite the heartbreak.

“Our spirit remains high. We just need to continue playing the way that we are playing and use our opportunities [in future games],” he concluded.