Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos believes South Africa’s lack of players competing regularly in Europe remains a decisive disadvantage after their AFCON 2025 exit at the hands of Cameroon.

Bafana Bafana’s campaign ended in the round of 16 on Sunday after a 2–1 defeat in Rabat, where goals from Junior Tchamadeu and teenage Bayer Leverkusen striker Christian Kofane proved decisive despite a late response through Evidence Makgopa.

While Broos accepted responsibility for the result, he was clear in his post-match assessment that the broader issue runs deeper than one game or one tournament.

AFRICA PICKS: Arsenal vs Liverpool – Premier League midweek moneymakers

“You know, as a national team, we can’t do much about that,” Broos said to Newzroom Afrika. “When you look at the teams that are progressing, those are teams with players who play in Europe. We don’t have that, and that is a disadvantage for South Africa.”

The Belgian pointed to Cameroon as a clear example of how exposure to elite competitions sharpens players at international level. Kofane, just 19 and already playing in the Bundesliga, was decisive moments after coming on, underlining the difference Broos believes European football makes.

“That is the opportunity our players need,” Broos explained. “They have to be challenged more. Playing once against Argentina or once against Ghana doesn’t suddenly lift your level. It’s something else.”

Broos stressed that the Premier Soccer League continues to produce talent, but warned the gap between domestic football and the demands of AFCON knockout stages remains significant.

“I said from the beginning that the difference between the level of the PSL and what we faced in the last weeks is very big,” he said. “You can only make that gap smaller when you have players who are playing in very difficult competitions.”

AFRICA PICKS: Premier League midweek frenzy – Where the value lies

South Africa entered AFCON 2025 with one of the most locally based squads at the tournament. While that approach delivered progress from the group stage, Broos believes it limits how far Bafana can realistically go against sides stacked with Europe-based professionals.

Despite the disappointment, Broos remains optimistic about the future, insisting the solution lies in opportunity rather than overhaul.

“All we can do is hope that players get the chance to go to Europe and that they make the step,” he said. “That should help this team enormously.”

With AFCON behind them, Broos confirmed attention now turns to long-term development and the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he hopes more South African players will arrive having been tested consistently at the highest level.

Photo: Philip Maeta/Gallo Images