South Africa’s Bafana Bafana will test their readiness for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with a high-profile friendly against Ghana, the South African Football Association (SAFA) has confirmed.
SAFA announced that Hugo Broos’ side will round off their AFCON preparations with a home encounter against the Black Stars on Tuesday, 16 December 2025, in Gauteng. The specific venue is expected to be revealed shortly.
According to the association’s statement, the fixture forms a crucial part of South Africa’s build-up as they chase continental glory in Morocco, where the team hopes to improve on their bronze-medal finish from the previous tournament.
The squad will depart for Morocco a day after the friendly, ahead of the AFCON scheduled from 21 December 2025 to January 2026.
While the match offers South Africa a final tune-up before the tournament, it marks a different chapter for Ghana, who missed out on AFCON qualification after a disastrous campaign that saw them finish bottom of Group F — a group featuring Sudan, Angola and Niger.
With no AFCON participation ahead, the Black Stars have shifted their focus to upcoming priorities, including the 2027 AFCON qualifiers, which begin in March 2026, and the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where they will compete in Group L alongside England, Croatia and Panama.
South Africa, meanwhile, will contest Group B at the AFCON, paired with Egypt, Angola and Zimbabwe. Their tournament opener is set for 22 December 2025 against Angola.
Though each team approaches the friendly from different perspectives, the fixture promises a competitive edge as both nations continue building toward their respective international targets.
