Broos eases injury fears as Bafana head to AFCON
Bafana Bafana have issued a reassuring injury update ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, easing concerns both before and after their 1–0 send-off victory over Ghana at Dobsonville Stadium.
Before the Ghana friendly, coach Hugo Broos confirmed the squad was not at full strength, with several key players joining camp late and others managing minor knocks. Burnley striker Lyle Foster, Club Brugge winger Shandre Campbell and Portugal-based midfielder Siphephelo Sithole were all unavailable for the match and are set to link up with the squad in Morocco.
Broos stressed that the Ghana fixture was treated cautiously. “It was more a training match than a selection game,” he said. “I didn’t want to risk players with small injuries and lose them for AFCON.”
After the match, attention turned to Oswin Appollis, who picked up a knock late on after coming off the bench. The winger was seen limping post-match, raising fears over his availability, with Kaizer Chiefs attacker Mduduzi Shabalala on standby.
However, Broos quickly played down the concern. “It’s nothing major,” the Belgian coach confirmed. “He just took a kick on the leg. Maybe he feels it a bit tomorrow, but it’s not bad.”
Bafana Bafana will depart for Morocco today, where Broos expects the squad to reach full fitness as preparations intensify ahead of their AFCON opener against Angola.