Bafana Bafana, South Africa's national men's team will sharpen their preparations for the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with an international friendly against Ghana next week, as both sides gear up for contrasting footballing campaigns later this month in Morocco.
South Africa coach Hugo Broos and his squad will host the Black Stars on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at a venue in Gauteng yet to be confirmed by the South African Football Association (SAFA).
Regardless of the final choice of stadium, officials expect a strong turnout as supporters rally behind a Bafana side buoyed by their qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
The team will depart for Morocco the following day to continue preparations for the AFCON, which runs from December 21 to January 18. The tournament will be staged across nine venues, with defending champions Côte d’Ivoire seeking to hold on to their crown.
Broos’ men, bronze medallists at last year’s competition in Cote d'Ivoire, have been drawn in Group B. They open their campaign against Angola in Marrakesh on December 21, followed by a crucial encounter with Egypt in Agadir on December 26. Their final group match is against Zimbabwe in Marrakesh on December 29.
SAFA confirmed the Ghana encounter in a statement on Monday, describing it as the team’s final fixture on home soil before leaving for the continental showpiece. “Bafana Bafana will face Ghana next week in their final match in South Africa ahead of their departure to this month’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco,” the statement said.
For Ghana, the fixture represents an opportunity to test their squad despite missing out on AFCON qualification for the first time since 2004. The Black Stars, who will return to the global stage next summer at the FIFA World Cup, are using the match to assess depth and match readiness ahead of a busy 2026 calendar.
With both teams seeking momentum, the friendly is expected to offer competitive intensity and attract considerable attention from fans across the continent.
