RABAT – South Africa and Cameroon will meet at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations for the second time, and for the first time this century, when they clash in the Round of 16 at the Al-Medina Stadium in Rabat on January 4.
Their only previous meeting at the AFCON came in the opening game of the 1996 tournament, where hosts South Africa secured a 3-0 victory at Soccer City. Goals from Phil Masinga, Mark Williams and John Moshoeu set Bafana Bafana on course for their maiden continental title.
South Africa’s return to international football in 1992 saw them face Cameroon in Durban in a friendly on July 7, 1992, with Doctor Khumalo converting a 79th-minute penalty in a 1-0 win.
Overall, the sides have met nine times, with South Africa winning three matches, Cameroon one, and five encounters ending in draws.
Current South Africa coach Hugo Broos was in charge of Cameroon when the teams met during qualification for the 2017 AFCON. Their first match, played in Limbe on March 26, 2016, ended in a 2-2 draw.
Tokelo Rantie gave South Africa a 17th-minute lead, Sebastian Siani equalised in first-half stoppage time, Hlompho Kekana restored Bafana’s advantage in the 51st minute, before Nicolas Nkoulou levelled again in the 66th minute.
The return fixture in Durban on March 29, 2016 finished 0-0. Cameroon qualified for the finals in Gabon, while South Africa failed to qualify.
Cameroon’s only victory over South Africa was a 2-1 friendly win on July 9, 1992.
South Africa is unbeaten in seven matches against Cameroon since that defeat in July 1992 (W2 D5).
The last three meetings between the teams have all ended in draws, including a friendly on January 2015 and both matches in 2017 AFCON qualification.
The last winner in this fixture was South Africa, who won a friendly international 3-2 on November 19, 2008. Teko Modise scored twice and Bernard Parker added the third, while Cameroon’s goals came from Ngom Kome and Somen Tehoi.
South Africa has scored in eight of their nine meetings with Cameroon, failing only in a 0-0 draw during 2017 AFCON qualification.
South Africa has kept three clean sheets against Cameroon, while the Indomitable Lions have kept one.
Bafana Bafana assistant coach Helman Mkhalele featured as a substitute in the opening match of the 1996 AFCON against Cameroon and also played in a 1-1 friendly draw in December 1994.
Hugo Broos led Cameroon to their fifth AFCON title in 2017. He was Cameroon coach between March 2016 and November 2017, overseeing 25 matches (P25 W9 D10 L6).
At the 2017 AFCON, Broos’ Cameroon side defeated Senegal on penalties in the quarter-finals following a 0-0 draw, beat Ghana 2-0 in the semi-finals, and overcame Egypt 2-1 in the final.
