Aaron Mokoena speaks about his wishes for the Bafana Bafa national team! | OneFootball

The former Bafana Bafana player wishes his former team all the best.

Aaron Mokoena speaks about his wishes for the Bafana Bafa national team!

As the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco draws near, a wave of optimism, spearheaded by former captain Aaron Mokoena, is building around the South African national team. Fresh from their bronze-medal finish in the last tournament, Bafana Bafana are not just participating; they are arriving with a belief that they can conquer the continent.

Drawn into a challenging Group B with Egypt, Zimbabwe, and Angola, Hugo Broos' squad will begin their campaign against Angola on December 22nd in Marrakech. With the final squad selection imminent, the anticipation is palpable. For Mokoena, this is more than just hope; it is a logical progression. He sees a team that has rediscovered its identity and is ready to take the final step.

“I think Bafana Bafana have led us since the previous AFCON tournament. They are going to AFCON now for the second time. They came back with bronze, and now it is about time they actually get to the finals,” Mokoena stated during the Clinix Walter Sisulu Soccer Challenge media launch at Maponya Mall.

His vision extends beyond the men's team, painting a picture of a triumphant year for South African football as a whole. He points to the collective success of the nation's teams, urging fans to replace their characteristic criticism with celebration.

“Hopefully, when they get to the finals, we will follow through with the girls as well. We know our Banyana Banyana have been amazing on the continent; they went to the World Cup as well. But for us, it is about celebrating this year."

For Mokoena, the blueprint for success lies in the unique qualities of South African players. While acknowledging the physicality of other African nations, he believes their distinct advantages are more than enough to compete at the highest level.

“For me, I just want to see the qualities that we have in the country. We have players who are so quick and skillful. Those are two major qualities that we possess in South Africa. Yes, we can talk about strength, but we are playing against other African countries where they may be bigger than us. However, we have speed in our football philosophy, with players who are technically amazing.”

In his closing remarks, he made a passionate plea for national pride, highlighting 2025 as a landmark year of qualification and achievement that deserves to be honoured.

”All our national team divisions qualified for AFCON and FIFA World Cups. So, it’s been a beautiful year. That’s what we need to celebrate. Yes, I know we complain a lot because we are South Africans; we are always about complaining, but why can’t we celebrate 2025 for all the achievements our national teams have accomplished?”