By The Numbers: Bafana Bafana’s AFCON Qualifiers

Bafana Bafana wrapped up their double-header against Congo with a 1-1 draw on Tuesday evening in Brazzaville. The result leaves them on the brink of qualification, with two games still to play. One win in the remaining two games will give Bafana 11 points and secure an AFCON ticket. However, they can still qualify without adding another point, depending on other results. Hugo Broos and the team can return with confidence, knowing their fate is in their own hands. By The Numbers reviews the two games Bafana played this past week and their impressive campaign so far.

A Hard-Earned Point

The return leg in Congo was always going to be different from the 5-0 cruise a few days earlier in Gqeberha. Played on artificial turf in front of a hostile crowd, it was crucial to start well. And Bafana did just that, taking the lead just after half an hour. While the opposition grew into the game after the opener and dominated the second half, it’s safe to say the first half belonged to Bafana from an attacking perspective.

11 – shots by Bafana in the first half (3 for Congo)
3 – shots on target for Bafana in the first half (1 for Congo)
10 – touches in the opposition box for Bafana in the first half (just 2 for Congo)

That said, the second half belonged to the hosts, who knew that defeat would knock them out of contention. After the break, Bafana seemed content to return home with a point, while the hosts were more adventurous and went for the win. Bafana took their foot off the pedal, ceding control to Congo, who will be disappointed not to have scored at least one more goal.

11 – shots for Congo in the second half (4 for Bafana)
14 – touches in the opposition box for Congo in the second half (6 for Bafana)
0 – shots on target for Bafana in the second half (the first time Bafana completed a half of football without a shot on target in the AFCON qualifiers so far).

Shared Responsibilities

Many leading voices regarded the 5-0 win over Congo in Port Elizabeth as one of Bafana’s best performances in recent years. Not only was it a goal feast, but we also saw four different players find the net. Oswin Appollis was outstanding in the final third, providing a hat-trick of assists in the first half. For the period where we have this data available (2004 onwards), no player in Bafana’s history has ever assisted three goals in the first half of an AFCON qualifying game. His assists helped Bafana towards this big win and past the 100-goal mark in AFCON qualifying history.

01 – goals scored by Bafana in AFCON qualifiers (since 1992)
11 – goals scored by Bafana in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers, equalling their record for a single AFCON qualifying campaign (11 in 2019)
2 – games remaining for Bafana to break that record
7 – players who have scored for Bafana in the 2025 qualifiers
1 – Only once before have more players scored for Bafana in a single campaign (9 in the 2002 qualifiers).

Road To Casablanca

Bafana will have the chance to book their ticket to Morocco when they travel to Uganda in four weeks. A win will be enough. A few days later, they’ll have a second chance when they host South Sudan in the final game. The 2025 AFCON will be the 35th edition, and should Bafana qualify, it will mark their 12th appearance at the finals.

8 – teams that have qualified for AFCON 2025 so far: Morocco (hosts), Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Algeria, DR Congo, Senegal, Egypt, and Angola.