Few matchups in African football stir as much debate as South Africa versus Cameroon. Their latest clash — a 2-1 win for Cameroon in the AFCON 2025 round of 16 — ended Bafana Bafana’s tournament run and renewed questions about both teams’ paths to the next World Cup.
Matches Played (ALL): 9 ·
Cameroon Wins: 1 ·
South Africa Wins: 3 ·
Draws: 5 ·
Latest Meeting Score: Cameroon 2-1 South Africa (AFCON 2025 Round of 16)
Quick snapshot
- Cameroon beat South Africa 2-1 in AFCON 2025 Round of 16 (YouTube (match highlights))
- South Africa eliminated from AFCON 2025 (ESPN Africa (sports network))
- All-time record: South Africa 3 wins, Cameroon 1 win, 5 draws (CAF Online (governing body))
- Whether Cameroon have qualified for the 2026 World Cup
- South Africa’s exact 2026 World Cup qualification path
- Goal scorers in the latest match are not specified
- Remaining match schedules for both teams are not yet published
- Last South Africa win: 19 November 2008 (friendly 3-2) (CAF Online)
- Last three meetings before AFCON 2025 all draws (CAF Online)
- Match played 4 Jan 2026 at Agdal Medina Stadium, Rabat (ESPN Africa)
- South Africa focus on 2026 World Cup qualifiers
- Cameroon await official word on World Cup qualification
Key statistics from the rivalry:
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Matches Played | 9 |
| South Africa Wins | 3 |
| Cameroon Wins | 1 |
| Draws | 5 |
| Last Match Date | 4 January 2026 |
| Last Match Score | Cameroon 2-1 South Africa |
Who won the last match between South Africa and Cameroon?
AFCON 2025 Round of 16 result
- Final score: Cameroon 2-1 South Africa (match highlights on YouTube)
- Stage: AFCON 2025 Round of 16
- Venue: Agdal Medina Stadium, Rabat
- Kickoff: 21:00 CAT / 20:00 Moroccan time
The implication: Cameroon’s win snapped a six-match winless streak against South Africa and kept their AFCON campaign alive, while South Africa exited the tournament without a win in the knockout stage since 1996.
What is the head-to-head record between South Africa and Cameroon?
Total matches played
Nine official meetings since 2008, according to CAF Online (governing body).
Wins by team
Detailed win-loss data:
| Team | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals For | Goals Against |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 3 | 5 | 1 | 14 | 9 |
| Cameroon | 1 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 14 |
Draws
Five draws in nine meetings — the last three before AFCON 2025 all ended in deadlock. The pattern suggests these sides are closely matched, but South Africa’s historical edge in wins didn’t translate to knockout success.
What this means: Despite South Africa’s better overall record, Cameroon’s victory in a knockout match carries more weight because it decided a tournament fixture.
Is Bafana Bafana eliminated from AFCON 2025?
Official elimination confirmation
Yes, South Africa (Bafana Bafana) was eliminated from AFCON 2025 after losing 2-1 to Cameroon in the round of 16.
- South Africa scored 2 goals and recorded 2 assists in the group stage, matching Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman
- They were led by coach Hugo Broos, who previously coached Cameroon to the 2017 AFCON title
The cost: Bafana Bafana exit without an AFCON title since 1996, and the loss to Cameroon means Broos could not overcome his former team.
Does South Africa still qualify for the 2026 World Cup?
World Cup qualification status
The exact status of South Africa’s 2026 World Cup qualification is not entirely clear from available sources. Some media reports suggest they remain in contention, but no official FIFA confirmation has been published. The team’s focus now shifts to qualifying matches, though the specific path and remaining fixtures are not yet detailed.
Remaining matches
With AFCON 2025 behind them, South Africa will turn to CAF World Cup qualifiers. The schedule and opponent details are expected from CAF (governing body) in due course.
The pattern: One tournament door closes, another remains open — but clarity on the World Cup front is still needed.
Are Cameroon out of the World Cup in 2026?
Current qualification status
It is unclear whether Cameroon has been eliminated from 2026 World Cup qualification. Fan reactions and some media chatter suggest they may not have qualified, but official confirmation from FIFA or CAF is still pending. The Indomitable Lions’ focus remains on their AFCON quarter-final run, with World Cup decisions to follow.
With Hugo Broos facing his former team, the emotional stakes were high. His Cameroon connection added a layer of intrigue that may influence future encounters if these sides meet again in qualifiers.
Overall comparison of the two teams:
| Metric | South Africa | Cameroon |
|---|---|---|
| All-time wins | 3 | 1 |
| Goals scored (all meetings) | 14 | 9 |
| AFCON 2025 outcome | Eliminated in Round of 16 | Advanced to Quarter-finals |
| Last win in fixture | 19 Nov 2008 (friendly) | 4 Jan 2026 (AFCON) |
| AFCON titles (total) | 1 (1996) | 5 (most recent 2017) |
Nine meetings, one pattern: South Africa holds the historical edge, but Cameroon’s win in the tournament fixture was decisive. The gap in AFCON titles (1 vs 5) also underlines the difference in pedigree at this level.
Timeline of South Africa vs Cameroon
- 2008–2025: Nine head-to-head matches played
- 2025: Cameroon wins 1 match, South Africa wins 3, 5 draws
- 4 January 2026: Cameroon defeats South Africa 2-1 in AFCON 2025 Round of 16
- Post-January 2026: South Africa eliminated from AFCON 2025; both teams pursue 2026 World Cup qualification
Confirmed facts
- Cameroon won the last match 2-1 on 4 January 2026 (YouTube)
- South Africa eliminated from AFCON 2025 (ESPN Africa)
- All-time: South Africa 3 wins, Cameroon 1 win, 5 draws (CAF Online)
What’s unclear
- Cameroon’s exact qualification status for the 2026 World Cup
- South Africa’s exact qualification path for the 2026 World Cup
- Goal scorers in the latest match are not specified
- Remaining match schedules for both teams are not yet published
“South Africa had three wins, Cameroon one win, and five draws in the nine previous meetings.”
— CAF Online (governing body)
“Hugo Broos had previously led Cameroon to the 2017 AFCON title.”
— ESPN Africa (sports network)
For South African fans, the immediate question is whether Bafana Bafana can regroup for World Cup qualification. For Cameroon, the victory proves they can still compete at the highest level, but the uncertainty around their own World Cup hopes looms large. The trade-off is clear: one team’s AFCON dream ended while the other’s continues, but both face pivotal decisions ahead in the race to 2026.
South Africa’s historical head-to-head lead didn’t help them when it mattered most — in a knockout match. The data shows that draws have been common, but Cameroon’s win broke a pattern that had favored South Africa.
Who scored in the South Africa vs Cameroon match?
The specific scorers are not detailed in available sources. The final score was 2-1 in favor of Cameroon (match highlights).
When did South Africa last beat Cameroon?
South Africa’s last win was a 3-2 friendly on 19 November 2008.
What is Bafana Bafana’s current AFCON status?
Eliminated from AFCON 2025 after losing to Cameroon in the Round of 16.
How many times have Cameroon and South Africa drawn?
5 draws in 9 meetings.
What was the venue for the AFCON match?
Agdal Medina Stadium, Rabat.
What is the kickoff time for the match?
21:00 CAT, 20:00 Moroccan time.
For a detailed breakdown of that 2-1 defeat in Rabat, you can Read the full AFCON 2025 match report to see how Cameroon’s early goals set the tone.