Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has made it clear that Saturday’s international friendly against Zambia will be treated with the same intensity and purpose as a FIFA World Cup or Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier.

The South African senior men’s national team, already qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, will host regional rivals Zambia at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on 15 November 2025, as part of their final preparations for the upcoming AFCON tournament in Morocco. Kick-off is scheduled for 3pm CAT.

“We are preparing for the friendly game against Zambia on Saturday. But for me, friendly games do not exist,” said Broos. “Every match demands full focus and commitment. We play to win, and this one is no different.”

With the AFCON 2025 just weeks away, Broos emphasised the importance of maintaining a competitive mindset and using the match to evaluate additional squad options.

“Losing on Saturday would not be acceptable. I expect every player to approach this game with the same seriousness as a qualifier. This is not a holiday. It’s also my last chance to assess a few players more closely before finalising the squad,” he added.

Bafana Bafana will remain in Johannesburg until Friday morning before traveling to Gqeberha for the fixture.