Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has unveiled his final 23-man squad for this month’s international friendlies against Tanzania and Mozambique. The national team will kick off their June schedule against Tanzania on Friday, 6 June 2025, at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, before locking horns with Mozambique four days later at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Tshwane.
Fresh Faces in Bafana Bafana Final Squad
Broos made headlines with several bold calls, leaving out players from Mamelodi Sundowns due to their involvement in the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, scheduled from 14 June to 13 July 2025. Instead, he handed first-time senior call-ups to Orlando Pirates stars Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Mohau Nkota, Simphiwe Selepe, and Deano van Rooyen. These selections came from a larger preliminary squad of 41 players that had included a host of new talents.
The squad will gather in Johannesburg on Sunday, 1 June, before travelling to Polokwane later that day to begin final preparations.
A Golden Era for SA Football?
Speaking during the announcement, Broos expressed optimism about the broader state of South African football. He praised the progress across various age groups and divisions, pointing to recent international successes. The under-15 girls’ team recently clinched the COSAFA title and earned a bronze medal at the CAF African Schools Football Championship in Ghana. Their male counterparts also took home the COSAFA title and impressed at the same continental schools’ event.
More impressively, Amajimbos (the U17 national team) have secured qualification for the FIFA U17 World Cup in Qatar later this year. Amajita (U20) went a step further by being crowned African champions after beating Morocco 1-0 in the final in Cairo. They have also booked their spot at the U20 FIFA World Cup in Chile this September.
The Momentum Continues for Senior Teams
At the senior level, Banyana Banyana are currently involved in the #ThreeNations series as they prepare to defend their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title in July in Morocco. Bafana Bafana have already punched their ticket to the men’s AFCON, which will also be held in Morocco this December.
Broos also noted that South Africa tops its group in the ongoing qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Additionally, the nation will compete in the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN), hosted across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda in August.
“These are exciting times for football in the country,” Broos remarked. “Every level of the game is thriving — the U17s, U20s, our senior teams — but now is the time to act. If we become complacent, this progress could vanish in a few years. We need to put systems in place to ensure continuity and development.”
Time for Action, Not Complacency
Broos emphasised the need for long-term planning from the national football authorities. He cautioned against the all-too-familiar trend of talented players disappearing after youth tournaments due to a lack of support and infrastructure.
He stressed that while results are currently positive across all levels, sustaining this momentum will require serious investment in development pathways and better follow-through from the South African Football Association.
With the friendlies against Tanzania and Mozambique looming, Bafana Bafana will look to continue their upward trajectory under Broos’ stewardship. These matches will serve as crucial preparation for the AFCON and World Cup qualifiers, while also offering new call-ups the chance to stake a claim for future inclusion.
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