South Africa national football team Bafana Bafana, will be heading to the Ivory Coast for their 11th appearance at the most crucial football competition in Africa.
Drawn in one of the toughest AFCON 2023 groups, Bafana Bafana will battle Mali, the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia, and southern neighbours Namibia in group E.
Led by coach Hugo Broos, South Africa will open their account against Mali at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium in Korhogo on Tuesday, 16 January 2024.
Five days later, 71-year-old Broos will oversee Bafana Bafana's second group game against Namibia at the beautiful Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium in Korhogo on Saturday, 21 January 2024.
South Africa's final group E game will then be against the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia on 24 January 2024, the match will also take place at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium in Korhogo.
The South African team for AFCON has the lowest foreign-based contingent in the history of their participation, with just three of 23 players playing outside of the Soccer Premier League.
With such a number of players based locally, Broos feels he has a group of players that can achieve something special in Ivory Coast.
“I know, because this is the experience I have from the past, we have a very good group. We have guys that are a group, not 23 [individual] players, no. This is a group,” Broos emphasized.
“So if everyone is convinced of their qualities, and they are mentally and physically ready, then I think we can have good results there [in Ivory Coast].
“Maybe not winning [the tournament] because you need a little bit of luck also to win the AFCON. But we can make good results, I'm sure of it.”
Where will Bafana Bafana stay in Ivory Coast for AFCON 2023?
Currently camping in the Western Cape city of Stellenbosch in preparation towards the tournament, the South African team will play Lesotho in a training match behind closed doors at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville.
Touch down! Hello Cape Town… 😊😊Bafana Bafana have arrived safely in the Western Cape and have settled at their new digs in Stellenbosch @sas_hp ready to prep for #AFCON2023. It’s a full house! #BafanaPride @FlySafair pic.twitter.com/8yFqjsYnIc
— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) January 5, 2024
Bafana Bafana will then depart for Ivory Coast on 11 January 2024 where they will be staying in a luxurious hotel that gives them the best living comfort.
However, at the time of this report, the name, location and cost of the accommodation the team will use is still unknown. We will update in the coming days when this information comes out.
South Africa will be looking towards having a memorable tournament. They failed to qualify in the previous edition which took place in Cameroon.
Heading to Ivory Coast with a much improved squad, coach Broos will be eager to oversee another AFCON title triumphant team like the young lads he coached to continental glory for Cameroon in 2017 should Bafana Bafana go all the way.
This article was most recently revised and updated 8 months ago
