Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos may turn to Bathusi Aubaas to assert control in midfield when South Africa faces Cameroon in their crucial AFCON knockout clash on Sunday.
The industrious Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder has emerged as a strong contender for a place in the starting XI, with the midfield battle expected to play a decisive role in Bafana Bafana’s pursuit of AFCON success.
Aubaas produced an impressive display on his Africa Cup of Nations debut in the final group-stage match against Zimbabwe last Monday. Introduced in the second half in place of Sphephelo Sithole—who was under pressure and already on a yellow card—Aubaas made an immediate impact. His sharp ball circulation, improved tempo, and composure in possession brought renewed energy to the team.
His performance clearly caught the attention of Broos, who suggested the midfielder could feature prominently in the knockout stages.
“Bathusi did very well when he came on. We had more pace on the ball, and his passing was good,” said Broos. “After this performance, we can use Bathusi in the knockouts.”
The coach’s comments have opened the door for Aubaas to secure a starting role against Cameroon, as Bafana look to strengthen their midfield control in a high-stakes encounter.
Meanwhile, Sithole has openly reflected on his own challenges and the team’s overall form during the tournament. Having started all three group matches, the midfielder admitted that the side has not reached the standards set over the past two years.
“I know what I need to do and where I need to improve,” Sithole said. “We haven’t been in the form we showed in the previous two years. But as a group, we spoke about it and agreed that we need to go back to basics to return to that level.”
He also подчеркнул the urgency of the situation as Bafana enter the knockout phase.
“If we lose one game, we go home. So, we have to improve in many aspects and take it from there,” he added.
Bafana Bafana’s clash with Cameroon is expected to be a fiercely contested affair as they look to harness the depth and energy within their squad. Victory would see South Africa advance to the quarter-finals, where they would face the winners of the tie between hosts Morocco and Tanzania—a challenge that promises both excitement and immense pressure.
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