South Africa's AFCON 2025 Qualifiers: A Crucial Match Against South Sudan

Holifil

01 Apr, 2025

South Africa gears up for a pivotal match against South Sudan in their AFCON 2025 qualification journey.
The Bafana Bafana settled for a draw in their opening qualifier against Uganda, thanks to a costly error by Veli Mothwa.
A sports journalist weighs in on who should guard the nets for South Africa when they face South Sudan this Tuesday.

The Bafana Bafana are set to take on South Sudan in their next fixture of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. This match looms large as the team looks to bounce back from their opening draw against Uganda. The stakes are high, and the pressure is on for coach Hugo Broos and his squad.

As the game approaches, a significant question arises: who will be the man between the posts for South Africa? With Ronwen Williams sidelined due to injury, the decision now rests between Veli Mothwa and Sipho Chaine. Mothwa’s error against Uganda has sparked a lively debate about the best choice for this crucial match.

Veli Mothwa could find himself on the bench as South Africa takes on South Sudan in the AFCON 2025 qualifiers on Tuesday. Photo: Sia Kambou. Source: Getty Images

Who Should Broos Choose to Face South Sudan?

Briefly News caught up with sports journalist Uche Anuma to explore who should step up for Hugo Broos’s team against South Sudan. This decision carries immense weight, especially after Mothwa’s misstep in their previous match.

Read also:
When Work Meets Comedy The Day A Zoom Mishap Became Viral

Anuma acknowledges the difficulty Broos faces in making this choice. He insists that while Mothwa has earned respect for his tenure as the backup to Ronwen Williams, the recent error against Uganda complicates matters. Anuma suggests that Broos may need to look beyond Mothwa for this match.

"Broos has been showing Mothwa respect, giving him opportunities to shine now that Williams is injured. However, the error against Uganda was costly, and it raises questions about Mothwa’s current confidence levels," Anuma explained. "This is a critical moment for Broos, and he needs to decide whether to boost Mothwa’s confidence or give another goalkeeper a chance."

"In my opinion, the best move would be to start Sipho Chaine instead of Mothwa. The team needs stability, and Chaine has been performing consistently for Orlando Pirates. This could be the perfect time to test him under pressure, especially with Williams out of action. It’s also an opportunity to identify a solid backup keeper for future tournaments," he added.

"Additionally, I believe Sage Stephens from Stellenbosch FC deserves a call-up in the next international break. His form has been impressive, and having depth in goalkeeping is crucial for the long term."

Broos Reflects on the Uganda Draw

In a previous report by Briefly News, Broos addressed the reasons behind the draw against Uganda at the Orlando Stadium. The Belgian coach dissected his team’s performance during the post-match press conference, highlighting areas that need improvement.

Broos emphasized that while his team showed potential, they fell short in capitalizing on scoring opportunities. He noted that Uganda's defensive resilience and tactical approach made it challenging for the Bafana Bafana to secure a win. Broos also stressed the importance of learning from this match to prepare better for South Sudan.

As the team moves forward, the focus is on regaining momentum and ensuring that the next match delivers the three points needed to strengthen their qualification hopes. With the right decisions in place, the Bafana Bafana can regain their edge and continue their quest for AFCON 2025 glory.