Shaun Bartlett tips Bafana Bafana to end 30-year wait for AFCON title

The former Golden Arrows, University of Pretoria and Cape Town Spurs manager was part of the South Africa team that won the 1996 AFCON under the guidance of legendary former boss Clive Barker.

Since then the national team have struggled in both African and international football, missing out on three World Cup and four Africa Cup of Nations.

But the side are reformed unit under current head coach Hugo Broos and made it to the semi-finals at the 2023 AFCON, while they have since qualified for the upcoming World Cup to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico next year.

Bafana are in Group B alongside Egypt, Angola and Zimbabwe and get their AFCON campaign underway against Angola on December 22.

Bartlett said on IOL: "We have a perfect opportunity to rewrite history with the current squad because next year it will be 30 years since we last won it.

"So, imagine if our team can go all the way and win it 30 years later, and that is ideally what we are hoping for.

"Any game in any tournament format is difficult, but our players know exactly what it takes to get to a semi-final and also the final hurdle and go all the way.

"So, that mentality is what Hugo Broos has definitely worked on, because the players now have a stronger mindset and are mentally tougher than before."