Bafana Bafana is set to start a new chapter under the leadership of coach Pitso Mosimane as they begin their qualifying campaign for the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations. The team's last failure to qualify for an international tournament was four years ago when they missed out on the World Cup in Qatar. Since then, they have made significant progress, qualifying for major tournaments and establishing themselves as a re-emerging force in international football.
Under the guidance of former coach Hugo Broos, Bafana Bafana qualified for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, where they exceeded expectations by reaching the semifinals and securing a bronze medal. This achievement marked the country's first medal at the event since 2000. Mosimane took over the team after their World Cup success, which saw them advance out of their group for the first time.
Mosimane's first challenge as coach will be against Guinea at Orlando Stadium, a match that the team cannot afford to lose. The coach has inherited a confident team that has lost only one home official match during Broos's five-year reign. That defeat was due to fielding an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, against Lesotho during World Cup 2026 qualifying.
Mosimane has retained most of the players initially selected by Broos, which is expected to help the team hit the ground running. The team is anticipated to garner at least four points from their two qualifiers against Guinea and Eritrea. A strong start to the campaign is crucial for Bafana Bafana to reach next year's continental finals, which will take place in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
As Mosimane implements his philosophy and tactics, it is essential for South Africans to back him and allow him to build on the progress made by his predecessor. While there is a right to demand competence from the team, it is also important to guard against unnecessarily high expectations. Qualifying for international tournaments has become the bare minimum expectation for Bafana Bafana.
The 2024 Africa Cup of Nations will be hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, making it a significant event for the team to qualify for. With Mosimane at the helm, Bafana Bafana aims to surpass the heights reached by Broos, who led the team to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations semifinals. The team's journey to the tournament will require a strong performance in the qualifying campaign.
As Bafana Bafana embarks on this new journey, they will look to build on their recent successes and make a strong impression under Mosimane's leadership. The team's fans will be eager to see them qualify for the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations and make a deep run in the tournament.
Key points
- Bafana Bafana begins its qualifying campaign for the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations under new coach Pitso Mosimane.
- The team has made significant progress in recent years, qualifying for major tournaments and establishing themselves as a re-emerging force in international football.
- Mosimane has inherited a confident team and is expected to build on the progress made by his predecessor, Hugo Broos.
