Who: South Africa vs Cameroon
What: CAF 2025 Africa Cup of Nations
The place: Al Barid Stadium, Rabat, Morocco
When: Sunday, January 4, 8pm (19:00 GMT)
The way to comply with: We could have all of the buildup on Al Jazeera Sport from 16:00 GMT prematurely of our textual content commentary stream.
A crunch encounter awaits in arguably the tie of the spherical in the final 16 on the 2025 CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) between South Africa and Cameroon.
The showdown on the compact Al Medina Stadium in Rabat has the makings of a captivating contest between a Bafana Bafana facet constructing in the direction of the World Cup and a Cameroon workforce that entered the AFCON in disarray.
Cameroonian soccer federation president and Indomitable Lions legend Samuel Eto’o sacked nationwide workforce coach Marc Brys simply weeks earlier than the competitors began, changing him with David Pagou.
His reverse quantity on Sunday, Hugo Broos, led Cameroon to an unlikely 2017 AFCON title
Al Jazeera Sport takes a take a look at the mouth-watering match-up.
How did South Africa attain the 2025 AFCON final 16?
South Africa’s 2-1 victory towards close to neighbours Angola was the primary time they opened an AFCON with a win in 21 years.
Oswin Appollis had given South Africa the lead, however Present had Angola degree by the break, earlier than Lyle Foster netted the winner from outdoors the field.
Mohamed Salah led 10-man Egypt to a 1-0 win towards South Africa within the second group stage match, and in doing so, he secured the Pharaohs’ place within the subsequent spherical.
The Liverpool participant transformed a penalty on 45 minutes, however South Africa had been denied a spot kick late within the second half, when Yasser Ibrahim appeared to deal with the ball contained in the field.
The crunch sport got here towards one other neighbouring nation for Bafana Bafana as Appollis scored a penalty within the ultimate 10 minutes handy South Africa a 3-2 victory over Zimbabwe.
South Africa completed with six factors within the group, one behind winners Egypt.
How did Cameroon attain the 2025 AFCON final 16?
Cameroon opened with a 1-0 win towards Gabon as Karl Etta Eyong, assisted by Bryan Mbeumo, settled the sport along with his sixth-minute strike.
A degree was rescued towards defending champions Ivory Coast of their second match after Amad Diallo gave the Ivorians the lead within the 51st minute, just for Ghislain Konan to place by his personal internet 5 minutes later – Konan had laid on the help for Diallo solely moments earlier.
Cameroon once more needed to come from behind of their ultimate group stage match towards Mozambique, with a thunderbolt from Christian Kofane delivering a 2-1 victory.
Ivory Coast and Cameroon completed degree on seven factors, and each had a plus-two aim distinction. The Ivorians topped the desk as a result of they scored 5 targets to Cameroon’s 4.
Who will South Africa or Sudan face within the AFCON 2025 quarterfinals?
The winner will face the victor of the match between the hosts, Morocco, and Tanzania in Rabat on January 9.
Who’re South Africa’s key gamers?
Foster is the primary man for Bafana Bafana, and has already netted one essential aim along with his late winner in his facet’s opening match towards Angola.
Sipho Mbule has been given a job of greater-than-expected duty on the match, beginning excessive up the park, together with Foster, in an attack-minded setup.
On the different finish of the pitch, Ronwen Williams stays a pillar of power in South Africa’s aim.
Who’re Cameroon’s key gamers?
With seven targets throughout all competitions, Bryan Mbeumo headed into the match as Manchester United’s standout performer in an in any other case combined and chaotic season for the Pink Devils.
An damage saved Mbeumo out of the earlier AFCON, however this time, the 26-year-old has a golden alternative to clinch his first trophy with Cameroon.
Carlos Baleba arrived at AFCON with none major-tournament expertise, however the 21-year-old has already produced performances that belie his age.
Have South Africa ever received an AFCON?
South Africa have received the match solely as soon as, once they had been the hosts in 1996. Bafana Bafana had been additionally finalists in 1998, whereas they had been the bronze medallists on the final AFCON.
Have Cameroon ever received an AFCON?
Cameroon lifted two out of three AFCONs between 1982-1986, beating Nigeria in each finals. The 1984 title went to Egypt, with the Indomitable Lions the defeated finalists.
Again-to-back titles had been secured in 2000 and 2002, whereas an additional defeat to Egypt got here within the 2008 ultimate, earlier than Cameroon lifted their fifth and final title in 2017.
When did South Africa and Cameroon final meet?
The final encounter between the edges resulted in a 0-0 attract a qualifier for the 2016 ACFON.
The match was performed in South Africa, whereas the reverse qualifier in Cameroon resulted in a 2-2 draw.
The perimeters have drawn their final three encounters.
Have South Africa and Cameroon ever performed at an AFCON finals earlier than?
The one assembly between the groups at an AFCON occasion was within the 1996 version, hosted and received by South Africa.
Bafana Bafana, making their debut on the match, had been 3-0 winners within the group stage encounter, which was additionally the opening sport of that version.
When did South Africa first meet Cameroon?
The primary match between the edges was of specific notice, given it was South Africa’s first match after apartheid ended.
Bafana Bafana claimed a 1-0 win within the match on July 7, 1992, which was performed in Durban.
It was the primary of a three-game collection between the edges, which noticed South Africa declare two wins to Cameroon’s one.
Head-to-head
That is the tenth assembly with the draw being the general winner in earlier encounters, accounting for 5 of the outcomes between the African giants.
Bafana Bafana have claimed victory on three events, nonetheless, main Cameroon with only one win in matches between the edges.
South Africa workforce information
Broos confirmed that Sphephelo Sithole’s omission towards Zimbabwe was a tactical resolution and never injury-related.
Relebohile Mofokeng and Bathusi Aubaas are each battling for a spot.
South Africa predicted beginning lineup
Williams, Mudau, Modiba, Mbokazi, Ngezana, Mokoena, Aubaas, Mbule, Mofokeng, Appollis, Foster
Cameroon workforce information
Captain Nouhou Tolo was pressured off with a hamstring damage towards Mozambique. He was changed in defence by Christopher Wooh, who can be on standby as soon as extra, ought to Tolo fail to get well.
Mbeumo and Baleba had been each eliminated at half-time in that sport in order to keep away from bookings that might have led to suspensions for this match.
Cameroon predicted beginning lineup
Epassy, Tolo, Kotto, Malone, Yongwa, Baleba, Namaso, Tchamadeu, Ebong, Mbeumo, Kofane
