Modiba confident Bafana can conquer Africa again
'I think we need to set our standards up there,' Modiba said.
Aubrey Modiba is confident that South Africa's national football team, known as Bafana Bafana, have the potential to win the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) following their strong performance in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Modiba, a prominent member of the national team under former coach Hugo Broos, played a crucial role in helping Bafana advance to the last 32 of the World Cup for the first time.
The Mamelodi Sundowns left-back also participated in the 2023 AFCON tournament, where South Africa finished third and earned a bronze medal.
Modiba expressed his gratitude towards Broos for his contributions to South African football, praising his impact in transforming the team from 74th in the FIFA rankings to a current 54th position. The coach's departure has left Modiba looking forward to Pitso Mosimane's appointment as the new leader of Bafana Bafana.
With Mosimane set to take over the reins following a unanimous vote by the South African Football Association's National Elections Committee (NEC), Modiba remains optimistic about the team's prospects at the AFCON. South Africa's sole AFCON victory occurred in 1996, and the 31-year-old believes the team can now aim for a second continental title.
"We have to qualify for major tournaments," Modiba stated. "We got to the semifinal and I believe that we can win it again as a country because I think we need to set our standards up there."
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