Bafana Bafana Set for Crucial AFCON Preparation Match Against Zambia
Mihlali Baleka, Masindi Nemtajela, and Keletso Makgalwa are set to make their Bafana Bafana debuts under coach Hugo Broos during the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) preparation match against Zambia. The game will take place at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on Saturday evening, with a 6pm kick-off. This match is part of a critical phase of preparation for the continental tournament, which will be held in Morocco next month.
The 23-member squad announced by Broos includes two notable new faces: Nemtajela and Makgalwa. These players have been selected as part of Broos’s strategy to blend experienced players with fresh talent, ensuring that the team maintains its core strength while also testing potential replacements for any injuries or form drops ahead of the main event.
Broos emphasized the importance of retaining the momentum built over the past few months, which has seen Bafana Bafana qualify for both the upcoming AFCON and the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. However, he acknowledged the need to prepare for unforeseen circumstances such as injuries or loss of form. This is why he has included young talents like Nemtajela and Makgalwa in the squad.
Nemtajela, a skillful midfielder from Orlando Pirates, brings flair and precision to the team with his silky touches and accurate passes. Meanwhile, Makgalwa, who plays for Sekhukhune United, has proven himself as a key playmaker in the top flight. Last season, he recorded 11 assists and six goals in 32 appearances, and this season, he has already contributed six assists in 13 games.
Broos expressed his desire to secure a win against the coachless Zambia side, as it will serve as valuable preparation before the team assembles for camp in early December. He plans to field a strong team composed of regulars and new players to test their readiness.
“We will give players a chance, but more importantly, I want to win the game,” Broos said. “It has to be good preparation; we can’t afford to lose against Zambia just before AFCON. We’ll try to play with the best team, but maybe even from the beginning there’ll be one or two new players so we can see how they perform.”
The match also carries significance in the Cosafa rivalry, with bragging rights up for grabs. However, Broos stressed the importance of maintaining the team’s winning momentum. “For me, it’s not really a friendly game,” he said. “It’s a match where I want to see the team perform like they have over the last two years.”
Ideally, Broos would have preferred to face a stronger opponent than Zambia, but due to scheduling constraints, this was not possible. Teams such as Nigeria, Cameroon, DRC, and Gabon are participating in World Cup play-offs during this window, making it impossible for them to commit to friendly matches.
Despite this, Broos confirmed that all plans for the pre-AFCON camp are finalized. The camp will be based at the University of Pretoria’s High-Performance Centre from December 8 to 17 before the team departs for Morocco. Before the camp begins, Broos will travel to Washington DC in the first week of December for the World Cup group stage draw. By then, he hopes to have secured an opponent for their final AFCON warm-up match.
“We are going to Tuks, and we’re just looking for one more friendly match before we go to Morocco,” Broos said. “Everything else is done. I’ll go to the draw on December 5 and return immediately before we start preparations three days later. I can’t go and visit base camps and so on. I can’t miss the first five days of camp, AFCON is too important.”