Veteran Coach Rates Bafana Bafana's AFCON 2023 Chances, Outlines Their Biggest Threat

• South Africa are hoping for a good performance at the 2023 AFCON tournament
• Bafana Bafana have been backed to do well by a legendary Zimbabwean coach
• Hugo Broos' side are in AFCON's Group E alongside Tunisia, Mali, and Namibia

Legendary Zimbabwean tactician, Sunday Chidzambwa, has tipped South Africa to progress past the group stage of the upcoming 34th Africa Cup of Nations.

Bafana Bafana failed to qualify for the 2022 edition and reached the quarter-final of the 2019 tournament.

South Africa won their one and only AFCON title in 1996, but have struggled to replicate that in the years to follow. The 2023 edition will be their 11th appearance.

The last time Bafana Bafana took part in the tournament, they went as far as the quarter-final in 2019, where they were eliminated by giants, Nigeria.

AFCON 2023: Pitso Mosimane Weighs In on Bafana Bafana’s Chances in Group Stage

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They head to this year's tournament as underdogs and will need an almighty effort to win the competition. Several countries like Morocco, Nigeria, Ghana, Egypt, and Senegal have better squads and are therefore considered favourites.

Nevertheless, the unpredictability of the tournament means Hugo Broos' side could cause an upset. They will rely on the Belgian's experience at the tournament. He led Cameroon to the 2017 AFCON title, per the Guardian.

Chidzambwa on Bafana's AFCON chances

Bafana are in Group E alongside 2004 champions Tunisia, Mali, and neighbours Namibia. The top two teams will progress to the Round of 16, while the four best third-placed teams will also advance to the knockout stage.

Former Zimbabwe coach, Chidzambwa, told Far Post that South Africa can top the group, but there's one threat.

"For me, South Africa has a big chance to be on top of that group. The only real threat might come from Tunisia," he said. "They [SA] have the potential to beat them. Mali is almost at their level now, so things can be easy if SA matches the physicality of the West Africans."

Pitso Mosimane leaves door open to return to Bafana Bafana in the future

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He also pin-pointed one advantage Bafana will have against other teams.

"The players know each other, or they played in the same team at some point. And the style of play locally is almost similar.

"That is unlike Mali and Tunisia, who have more players abroad. If [Bafana] manage to garner confidence, they can easily be the number one team in that group."

Chidzambwa is a legendary figure in Zimbabwean football. He led the country to four COSAFA titles and took the team to the 2004 and 2019 editions of AFCON.

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Hugo Broos announces AFCON squad

Sports Brief recently reported on Broos' selection of 23 South African footballers to challenge for the AFCON title.

The coach made his announcement from Belgium, where he had returned for the festive season to see his family.

The Bafana Bafana squad will arrive in Cape Town on January 5 before flying out to Ivory Coast on January 10.