As Bafana Bafana prepare to face Cameroon in a crucial Africa Cup of
Nations round of 16 match, several tactical and selection issues remain
unresolved. Here are five key areas of concern for coach Hugo Broos and
his squad.
1. Vulnerability from Set-Pieces
South Africa’s defence has looked shaky during dead-ball situations
throughout the tournament. Nervy moments against Angola and a general lack
of solidity—evidenced by no clean sheets so far—raise alarms. With
Cameroon’s physical threat, improving set-piece organisation is
imperative.
2. Unsettled Midfield Pairings
Broos has yet to settle on a preferred midfield combination. Teboho
Mokoena has been deployed in a double pivot alongside different partners,
while experiments such as using Thalente Mbatha as an eight against Egypt
proved ineffective. The lack of a settled, balanced midfield could be
exploited by a strong Cameroonian side.
3. Lack of Impact from Substitutes
Beyond Tshepang Moremi’s influential second-half performance against
Angola, Bafana’s substitutes have struggled to change games. The
introductions of Relebohile Mofokeng and Elias Mokwana failed to break
down a ten-man Egypt. In a tight knockout match, impactful contributions
from the bench could be decisive.
4. Approach Against Stronger Opposition
Bafana have shown a worrying tendency to retreat against stronger teams,
sitting deep and relying on counter-attacks—a tactic that left them pinned
back against Egypt. Whether this cautious approach suits the squad, and if
they can execute it effectively against Cameroon, remains a major
question.
5. Predictable Game Management
Broos’s in-game management has come under scrutiny for delayed
substitutions and predictable, like-for-like changes. His replacements
have followed clear patterns without introducing tactical surprises. In a
knockout scenario, the ability to adapt decisively could define South
Africa’s fate.
