Bafana Bafana Line Up Ghana Friendly as Final Test Before AFCON 2025
South Africa will complete their preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with a competitive warm-up match against Ghana, the South African Football Association (SAFA) has confirmed.
Hugo Broos’ men are scheduled to host the Black Stars on Tuesday, 16 December 2025, in Gauteng, with SAFA expected to unveil the exact venue in the coming days. The fixture forms part of the final phase of South Africa’s build-up as they aim to mount a serious challenge for the continental crown in Morocco.
In a statement announcing the game, SAFA described the friendly as an essential component of their pre-tournament programme, especially as Bafana Bafana look to build on the momentum from their bronze-medal finish at the last AFCON.
Immediately after the match, the team will fly out to Morocco on 17 December to begin their final preparations for the tournament, which runs from 21 December 2025 to January 2026.
For Ghana, the match comes under different circumstances. The Black Stars failed to secure qualification for AFCON 2025, finishing bottom of Group F in a disappointing campaign that included Sudan, Angola and Niger. Their next major competitive commitments include the 2027 AFCON qualifiers starting in March 2026, and the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where they will take on England, Croatia and Panama in Group L.
South Africa, on the other hand, have been drawn into Group B, where they will face Egypt, Angola and Zimbabwe. Their opening match is scheduled for 22 December 2025 against Angola.
Despite their contrasting trajectories, the encounter is expected to be intense and tactical, with South Africa fine-tuning their title ambitions and Ghana assessing their squad as they prepare for future campaigns.
