HUGO BROOS UNDER FIRE AFTER SHOCKING AFCON EXIT AND WASTED 2026 MOMENTUM
South Africa crashes out of AFCON 2026. Was leaving Zwane and Rayners out a mistake? Full analysis of the 2-1 loss to Cameroon.
Hugo Broos and Bafana Bafana crashed out of the Africa Cup of Nations after a gutting 2-1 loss to Cameroon on Sunday night.
It stings. Back home, everyone expected the team to build on that bronze medal finish, especially after storming through World Cup qualification and racking up a 27-game unbeaten streak. Instead, they just never found their rhythm in Morocco. Even in their wins—2-1 over Angola, then a tight 3-2 against Zimbabwe, or the narrow 1-0 loss to Egypt, Bafana looked shaky. The self-belief and control they showed in the qualifiers just disappeared. They hesitated, second-guessed, and rarely put any team under real pressure.
Against Cameroon, who didn’t even make the World Cup, Bafana should’ve looked more assured. They had the ball, created chances, but couldn’t convert. All that effort, and still, they walked away empty-handed.
You have to wonder if Broos regrets leaving out players like Themba Zwane and Iqraam Rayners. Without Mshishi pulling strings, Bafana missed that cool head and spark in the middle—exactly the kind of guile that changes games at AFCON. The team moved the ball sideways too often, looking predictable and running out of ideas. There was no one to pick apart a packed defence, no one to slow things down or speed them up when needed.
Sure, Bafana stayed organised. They worked hard. But when the pressure was on, they just lacked imagination and couldn’t adapt.
Rayners, especially, could’ve made a real difference up front. Against Cameroon in the last sixteen, Lyle Foster worked hard but never really rattled that tough defence. Rayners has a knack for sharper movement, attacking space, pressing with intent, and just going straight for the goal. Even Makgopa’s late strike—proof that Cameroon could be hurt by a different kind of striker—came too late. Rayners would’ve brought that edge from the start.
This exit will haunt Broos because it didn’t have to end like this. Bafana came to Morocco with momentum and belief. They left without ever making their mark. AFCON doesn’t forgive missed chances, and this run will go down as a wasted shot—a lesson that discipline and structure don’t mean much without bravery and creativity.
With the World Cup coming up in June, South Africa has to be bolder. The good vibes from qualifying won’t matter if the same problems show up again on the world’s biggest stage.
EXCLUSIVE: AJAX AND SCHALKE LAUNCH BIDS FOR OUT-OF-CONTRACT RANGERS MIDFIELDER BAILEY RICE NOW
Rangers midfielder Bailey Rice is a top target for Ajax and Schalke. Get the latest on his contract status and potential summer exit.
Ajax and Schalke are chasing Rangers midfielder Bailey Rice, with both clubs working to seal a deal for the 19-year-old, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Rangers just wrapped up a training camp in Spain, gearing up for a crucial five-game stretch to go for the league title after the split earlier this month. Their run-in starts with Motherwell at home on Sunday, then a massive trip to face league leaders Hearts at Tynecastle next weekend.
After that comes the season’s final Old Firm showdown against Celtic at Parkhead on May 10, before closing out with Hibernian and Falkirk, who are the lowest-ranked teams in the split, having finished fifth and sixth.
This summer looks set for big changes at Rangers, and Rice is right at the centre of it. Romano reported on X that both Ajax and Schalke want to sign Rice as a free agent. The young Scottish midfielder is out of contract this summer. Talks over a new deal with Rangers haven’t worked out, so he’s weighing up his next move. Schalke reportedly already made him a personal offer, and Premier League side Aston Villa had also been linked with him earlier this year.
Rice has barely featured for Rangers this season after suffering a serious training injury that needed surgery; he’s only played a handful of minutes.
As for the rest of the squad, Rangers look set for another overhaul. After a busy transfer window last summer and more signings in January, things don’t seem to be slowing down. Manager Rohl has made do with what he has, but the club’s owners, the 49ers, are ready to back a ‘major recruitment drive’ this summer. Their aim? Knock Celtic off the top and keep Hearts from breaking up the Old Firm grip on Scottish football.
Nobody knows just how many players could come in yet, but it’s clear the owners are serious about shaking things up at Ibrox.
CARLO ANCELOTTI ISSUES TWO-MONTH WORLD CUP ULTIMATUM TO SANTOS STAR NEYMAR
Carlo Ancelotti confirms Neymar has two months to prove his fitness for the 2026 World Cup. Read the full Selecao update.
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Everyone’s talking about Neymar again as the 2026 World Cup edges closer. It’s the same old debate: does he still have a spot with Brazil? But this time there’s real hope on the table. Carlo Ancelotti’s left the door open for Neymar to make the cut. Even though Neymar hasn’t made the latest squads, he’s obviously still on the minds of the Selecao coaches.
Here’s the situation: Neymar's been battling injuries since he tore his ACL. He missed the season’s first 10 games after knee surgery last December. He got back on the field, but fitness issues and a suspension meant he still watched from the sidelines quite a bit. Still, Ancelotti isn’t ruling him out. In an interview with L’Equipe, Ancelotti emphasised Neymar’s reputation but also made something very clear: if Neymar wants the World Cup, he needs to earn it.
Talent isn't a question; nobody doubts Neymar’s skill. What matters for Ancelotti is being fit. No exceptions, no matter how big the star. “Neymar can come back. I’ve said it before, and it’s simple: only physically ready players get called up,” Ancelotti said flat-out. “His recovery from the knee injury is going well; he’s scoring again. He just needs to keep pushing and get fitter. He’s headed in the right direction.”
With 79 goals in 128 matches, Neymar has shaped Brazil’s football history. Ancelotti gets that fans want to see Neymar try one more time for the one trophy he’s never won. “Neymar belongs to Brazil’s football story. He’s hugely talented, so obviously people hope he’ll help us win the next World Cup. Right now, he’s under assessment not just by the CBF but by me, too. He’s got two months left to show he has what it takes for the World Cup,” Ancelotti said.
Neymar’s chance to prove himself is coming fast, with big matches for Santos ahead. He’s expected to start this Saturday when they face Atlético-MG at Vila Belmiro. If Neymar stays healthy and sharp, that final World Cup dream is still alive.
