1xBet AFCON 2025: History, numbers collide as South Africa face Cameroon in Rabat

By Victor Okoye

South Africa and Cameroon will renew a storied rivalry when they clash in the Round of 16 of the 2025 1XBET Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) at Rabat’s Al Medina Stadium on Sunday.

It will be only their second meeting at AFCON and the first this century, coming nearly three decades after Bafana Bafana’s famous 3–0 victory over Cameroon in the 1996 tournament.

That win launched South Africa’s fairytale title run, with Phil Masinga, Mark Williams and John Moshoeu writing their names into continental folklore.

Overall, the two sides have met nine times, with South Africa winning three matches, Cameroon one, and five encounters ending in draws. South Africa have remained unbeaten in seven meetings since 1992, a record that highlights their historical edge over the Indomitable Lions.

Adding intrigue to the knockout encounter is the presence of current South Africa coach Hugo Broos, who previously led Cameroon.

Broos was in charge of the Indomitable Lions during the 2017 AFCON qualification campaign, when both matches against South Africa ended in draws. Cameroon went on to qualify for the finals, while South Africa narrowly missed out—an outcome that still resonates with Bafana fans.

Now at the helm of South Africa, Broos brings an AFCON-winning pedigree, having guided Cameroon to the 2017 title in Gabon.

“Cameroon is a team I know very well, but this is a new story,” Broos said. “Knockout football is about discipline, courage and belief.”

South Africa arrive full of confidence after winning two group-stage matches, a feat they last achieved at AFCON 2000. They recorded victories over Angola and Zimbabwe, despite conceding in all three group matches for the first time since 1998.

Bafana Bafana are competing in the Round of 16 for the third time and have won both previous ties without conceding a goal. Notably, all their Round of 16 goals have come in the second half.

“That shows patience and a strong mentality,” Broos noted.

A victory would send South Africa into the quarter-finals for the seventh time overall and potentially a third time under Broos.

Attacking duo Lyle Foster and Oswin Appollis have each scored twice, spearheading South Africa’s attacking threat. Another goal would see either become the first South African to score three goals at a single AFCON tournament since Shaun Bartlett in 2000.

Cameroon, meanwhile, advanced to the knockout stage after victories over Gabon and Mozambique, as well as a draw with hosts Côte d’Ivoire.

Their comeback win against Mozambique marked their first open-play comeback at AFCON since 2021.

“This team has character and resilience,” Cameroon coach David Pagou said. “We showed it by fighting back when it mattered most.”

The Indomitable Lions scored four goals in the group stage—their lowest tally since 2019—but conceded just twice. Pagou stressed the importance of balance over flair at this stage of the competition.

“At this level, efficiency is more important than beauty,” he said.

Cameroon are making their 17th appearance in the AFCON knockout rounds and are chasing an 11th quarter-final berth. However, they have been eliminated at the Round of 16 stage in two of their last three appearances and have never kept a clean sheet at this stage of the competition.

Christian Kofane, scorer of the decisive goal against Mozambique, will lead Cameroon’s attack with confidence.

“South Africa are organised, but we believe in our strength and our history,” Pagou said. “This is AFCON—anything can happen.”

With history, tactics and current form all colliding, Rabat is set to host a compelling African classic under the lights.