Williams upbeat ahead of AFCON draw

Bafana Bafana will know their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations tournament fate tonight when the draw takes place in Rabat, Morocco.

Bafana have been placed in pot 2 in the seeding meaning that last year’s bronze medallists will avoid being drawn with Cameroon, Mali, Tunisia, Democratic Republic of Congo and Burkina Faso, who are also in pot 2.

Embattled SAFA President, Dannny Jordaan, and assistant coach, Helman Mkhalele, have also travelled to Rabat for the draw.

South Africa will have a keen interest on pot 1, which comprises hosts Morocco, defending champions Ivory Coast and other continental heavyweights Senegal, Egypt, Algeria and Nigeria.

The 2025 AFCON will take place from the 21st of December to next year January 18. Bafana secured their qualification when they finished first in group K undefeated last year.

Speaking to YSport, Bafana captain, Ronwen Williams, was upbeat ahead of the draw.

“The most important thing was being there and qualifying. Whoever we get, we know it’s going to be tough; you’re playing the best of the best. The good thing is that we’re in the top ten now,” said the goalkeeper.

Williams is also motivated by the impressive run they had last year.

Coach Hugo Broos’ senior team lost twice in 18 matches last year — against Mali in the group stage of the Nations Cup finals held in Ivory Coast in January and February, and on penalties against Nigeria in the semifinal. Bafana won nine times and drew seven matches as they reached the next Nations Cup finals and put themselves in a strong position for qualification for the 2026 Fifa World Cup.

“We’ve worked hard, we’ve done an amazing work over the last years, the nice that is that we’ve got a few months now to do more work ahead of AFCON and the World Cup.”