South Africa and Cameroon lock horns this Sunday in Rabat in what is undoubtedly the “Clash of Titans” of the Round of 16.
With a place in the quarter-finals on the line, the fixture is steeped in narrative, most notably the reunion between Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos and the nation he famously led to AFCON glory in 2017.
South Africa arrives in the knockout stage full of confidence after a thrilling 3-2 victory over Zimbabwe secured their passage as Group B runners-up. Cameroon, the five-time champions, likewise navigated a difficult Group F, showing their trademark resilience to come from behind and defeat Mozambique to set up this blockbuster encounter.
Match details: Time and Venue
The match takes place at the Al Medina Stadium, where a capacity crowd is expected for the final game of the Sunday double-header.
- Date: Sunday, 4 January 2026
- Kick-off: 19:00 GMT (20:00 local time)
- Venue: Al Medina Stadium, Rabat
AFCON 2025: Schedule, results and standings of the Africa Cup of Nations
Where to watch globally
The 2025 edition of AFCON continues to draw massive global audiences. Fans can follow the knockout stage through the following major providers:
- UK: Channel 4 (Free-to-air) on 4Seven, E4, and the Channel 4 Sport YouTube channel.
- USA & Canada: Exclusive coverage on beIN SPORTS and beIN SPORTS en Español. Streaming available via Fubo, Sling TV, and Fanatiz.
- Sub-Saharan Africa: SuperSport (English/Portuguese) and Canal+ Afrique (French).
- South Africa: Live and free on SABC 1 and the SABC+ app.
- North Africa & MENA: beIN SPORTS MENA.
- Australia & NZ: beIN SPORTS CONNECT.
🚨MATCH DAY🚨
AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS
LAST 16
⚽️ South Africa 🇿🇦 vs 🇨🇲 Cameroon
🗓 4 January 2026
⏰️ 20h00 (local time)
🏟 Al Medina Stadium, Rabat #BafanaPride@10bet_ZA @CastleLagerSA @HonorAfrica @Shield_ZA @SABC_Sport pic.twitter.com/0nn0Ih6V4y— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) January 4, 2026
Team news
South Africa’s Hugo Broos has stayed true to the “collective over individuals” philosophy. Burnley’s Lyle Foster and Oswin Appollis have been the standout performers, both having netted twice in the group stages. Bafana Bafana have a slight concern over defender Aubrey Modiba, who picked up a minor knock against Zimbabwe, but he is expected to be cleared for the start.
Cameroon, under coach David Pagou, have found their scoring touch but remain uncharacteristically vulnerable at the back, having yet to keep a clean sheet in the tournament. The Indomitable Lions will look to Bryan Mbeumo to provide the creative spark, while Christian Kofane—the hero of the Mozambique win—is expected to start in a midfield three. There are no fresh suspension concerns for the five-time winners.
The “Broos” factor and history
The historical data suggests a tactical stalemate. The two nations have met nine times, with South Africa surprisingly holding the upper hand (W3, D5, L1). Remarkably, Cameroon has not beaten South Africa in a competitive match since 1992.
For Hugo Broos, the match is deeply personal.
“If you win an AFCON with a country, there’s always a little place in your heart for them,” Broos admitted. “But tomorrow I can’t have mercy. I want to win because I’m the coach of South Africa now.”
David Pagou was equally respectful of his opponents:
“We are facing the most cohesive team in the competition. South Africa has reached a high level of collective play, and it will be a point of pride to compete with them for a place in the next round.”
AFCON 2025. Nine arenas set to define the continental showpiece
Round of 16: Sunday Fixtures
| Match | Venue | Time (GMT) |
| Morocco vs Tanzania | Rabat (Abdellah) | 16:00 |
| South Africa vs Cameroon | Rabat (Al Medina) | 19:00 |
