Key Takeaways:
- South Africa coach Hugo Broos says this Afcon will be tougher than the Ivory Coast edition.
- Broos names Morocco as the leading contender while withholding favourite status from Bafana Bafana.
- The presence of traditionally strong teams after the group stage will raise the overall standard of the tournament.
- Afcon 2025 favourites will likely be clear only after the group stages, Broos suggested.
Hugo Broos has warned that the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations will be a more demanding competition than the last edition in the Ivory Coast, as traditionally strong sides appear set to regroup and press their claims. Speaking at the pre-match press conference in Marrakech before South Africas opening Group B match against Angola, the Bafana Bafana coach said many of the continent’s heavyweights had been eliminated early last time but will not make the same mistake this year.
Afcon 2025 favourites and the challenge ahead
As you remember, many big countries were not qualified for the knockout or were soon out of the tournament, Broos said. He cited the absence or early exits of sides such as Egypt, Cameroon, Ghana and Morocco from late stages at the previous tournament as proof that the competitive picture can change quickly.
I think they learned their lesson from the last Afcon. This Afcon will be tougher than the one in the Ivory Coast, he added, laying out a simple truth for coaches and supporters alike: stronger squads will aim to be present into the business end of the competition.
Broos, who guided South Africa to a bronze finish at the previous tournament after a run to the semi-finals, stressed that the distribution of talent and experience across the field makes predicting a winner difficult. He suggested that while there may be a team to single out, the depth among contenders means every knockout match will be fiercely contested.
Normally, all the big teams will be there after the group stages. So that means it will be very tough to win this Afcon, he said. I think if you can call a favourite, its Morocco, because they are a very good team and playing at home. For all the rest, it will be a challenge.
Broos cautious assessment reflects the reality facing many national sides. Home advantage gives Morocco a tangible edge, he argued, but the strength of other squads and the lessons learned from the Ivory Coast tournament mean surprises are less likely to eliminate major teams early on.
He made clear that he will not be adding South Africa to any list of pre-tournament favourites. But now for the moment, you will not hear me saying that South Africa is one of the favourites, Broos said, preferring to let results on the pitch determine his squads standing.
The coachs remarks came ahead of what represents a crucial opening tie against Angola in Marrakech. For Bafana Bafana, the immediate focus is on securing points and building momentum. For neutral observers and pundits, the wider story is whether major nations will consolidate their status through the group phase and set up what Broos predicts will be a tougher and more competitive knockout tournament than fans saw in the Ivory Coast.
As the group stage unfolds, the tournament should reveal which teams have adjusted and which remain vulnerable. Broos measured forecast is a reminder that the path to the title will likely run through a lineup of accomplished sides rather than a field scattered with early upsets.
