South Africa vs Cameroon Predictions

South Africa possesses superior tactical insight regarding his former team. Significant squad disruptions currently affect the Indomitable Lions. This weakens their defensive cohesion against rapid counterattacks. Consequently, Bafana Bafana will likely edge this physical contest with a disciplined 1-0 scoreline

Match info: AFCON Round of 16

Venue: Al Barid, Rabat

Date: Sunday, 4^th January 2026

Time: 8 pm Nigerian time

South Africa, bronze medallists at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, will face five-time champions Cameroon in a heavyweight AFCON 2025 Round of 16 encounter on Sunday, January 4, 2026, at the Al Barid Stadium in Rabat.

Bafana Bafana progressed to the knockout phase as runners-up in Group B, while the Indomitable Lions also finished second in Group F, ending the group stage behind defending champions Cote d’Ivoire. Cameroon advanced unbeaten, and the winner of this tie will meet either hosts Morocco or Tanzania in the quarter-finals.

Head-to-head:

• South Africa have won three of the last nine meetings between the two teams.
• Cameroon recorded just one victory.
• The remaining five clashes ended in draws.
• South Africa coach, Hugo Broos guided Cameroon to their fifth AFCON title in 2017.
• Their last three games ended in draws.
• Three of their last four encounters produced at least two goals.

Form:

• South Africa in the AFCON: W-L-W
• South Africa in all competitions: W-W-W-L-W
• Cameroon in the AFCON: W-D-W
• Cameroon in all competitions: D-L-W-D-W

Team News:

• Mothobi Mvala is suspended for this clash, while Thapelo Maseko is a doubt.
• For Cameroon, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa i a major doubt.

Player(s) to watch:

• Lyle Foster is the one Hugo Broos heavily relies on. The Burnley striker provides the clinical edge this squad often lacks. He currently tallies two goals in three AFCON Group B appearances. This includes the crucial equaliser against Angola. His movement off the shoulder of the last defender consistently creates high-quality scoring opportunities for Bafana Bafana.
• Bryan Mbeumo runs the Indomitable Lions’ attack. He uses exceptional ball-carrying ability and precise delivery from wide areas. Mbeumo has registered one assist so far in Group F. He also maintains a passing accuracy of 82%. Mbeumo’s creative influence proved vital during the narrow 1-0 victory over Gabon.