Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos warns Zimbabwe Warriors will fight to the end

The two nations have met frequently in recent years, including a 0-0 draw in Durban during October's 2026 World Cup qualifiers, but Broos believes Zimbabwe are a different team under new coach Marian Marinica.

"They are playing a different way; this is not the Zimbabwe of six months ago," Broos told journalists on Sunday.

"They are playing aggressively - not brutally, but aggressively - and they are a tough team. For us, it will be tough tomorrow, and we will have to reach our best level to beat them."

South Africa need only to avoid defeat to secure progression, but Broos says the team is focused on the game itself rather than worrying about finishing second or third in the group.

"We are a little bit in the same situation as two years ago in the group stages in Ivory Coast," he explained.

"Also in the last game we could not lose (a 0-0 draw with Tunisia at the previous AFCON), and this is the same thing tomorrow (Monday). If we don't lose, we are in the next round, and that is the most important thing for us. But we know the opponent tomorrow will be a tough one."

Having coached South Africa for four years, Broos is well aware of the rivalry.

"They also like to win against us - we have felt that in previous matches. We know each other very well, but this is a new Zimbabwe, and we must respect them."

However, Broos is still frustrated by Friday's 1-0 loss to Egypt, in which he felt refereeing decisions went against his team.

"The game was decided by two decisions that were not right, for me. The penalty against us - my player touched Salah in the face, but it was not a hit, just touching. A yellow card would have been fine, but a penalty? I don't understand," he continued.

"And the penalty we did not get for a clear handball was another disappointment. The first half was not good, but in the second half we created chances. Monday is a completely different game, and maybe the frustration will give us extra motivation."

Monday's Group B decider promises a tense, hard-fought contest as Bafana aim to secure progression to the knockout stages and bounce back from their narrow loss to Egypt.