Former Orlando Pirates coach Roger De Sa insists Bafana Bafana can reach semifinals at AFCON 2025

Former Orlando Pirates coach Roger De Sa has insisted the Bafana Bafana of South Africa can reach the Africa Cup of Nations semifinals in Morocco.

The 35th edition of the continental showpiece has been scheduled to run from December 21, 2025 through to January 18, 2026, with 24 countries set to battle it out for the ultimate.

The Bafana Bafana are paired in the same group against record AFCON holders, Egypt, Angola, and Zimbabwe at the continental showpiece.

And assessing the group, Roger De Sa affirmed the Bafana Bafana opponents poses no threat to their ambition of making a solid impact at the tournament.

“I really believe that Angola and Egypt are not at their best at the moment. Angola are definitely not at their best. And also Zimbabwe, they used to be a hoodoo team for us… but I think in the last couple of encounters, they really struggled. We have really come a long way,” De Sa told FARPost.

“Angola and Zimbabwe are very much beatable and we should get six points from those matches,” he added.

“I think Bafana Bafana have a realistic chance, I see a realistic chance to finish top two in the group and go through to the quarterfinals. Once you get to the knockout stages, it is a cup fixture. Anything can happen.”

Bafana are in the same group as Angola, Zimbawe and Egypt. De Sa believes this 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations is far too open and that Bafana have a chance to win it.

“So ya, I let’s see, I think Bafana could pull up something here to reach the semis or even the final,” De Sa concluded.