Ghana Set to Face South Africa in High-Profile Pre-AFCON Friendly in Gauteng

1

South Africa’s national team, Bafana Bafana, have officially extended an invitation to the Black Stars of Ghana for a high-profile pre-AFCON international friendly scheduled for 16 December in Gauteng, South Africa.

The fixture forms part of South Africa’s final preparations ahead of their departure to Morocco, where the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will be staged in January. For Ghana, the match arrives at a crucial moment, offering Chris Hughton and his technical team a valuable opportunity to assess the squad’s readiness before naming the final tournament list.

Sources within the South African Football Association (SAFA) indicate that Gauteng was selected due to its top-tier training facilities, favourable climate, and proximity to Bafana Bafana’s preparatory camp.

The game is expected to attract significant attention, as both sides are eager to fine-tune tactics and assess player fitness levels. The encounter will provide the Black Stars with a stern test against a well-organised South African side that has shown steady progress under coach Hugo Broos.

For Ghana, the fixture also serves as an important chance to blend emerging talents with senior players, build on team chemistry, and iron out tactical challenges that surfaced during recent international assignments. With the AFCON drawing closer, every minute on the pitch becomes vital for selection and system cohesion.

Football analysts predict a highly competitive match, noting that encounters between Ghana and South Africa have always been tightly contested, often producing moments of quality, drama, and tactical brilliance. The game will also give fans a glimpse of what to expect from both nations at the continental showpiece in Morocco.

Logistics are being finalised, with both federations expected to release further details, including broadcast arrangements and venue specifics, in the coming days.

As anticipation builds, the friendly promises to provide a thrilling preview of Africa’s premier football tournament.

Author

  • My name is Emmanuel Austin Baah, professionally known as “Okocha”. I am a seasoned Ghanaian journalist, broadcaster and football commentator from Senya Bereku in the Central Region. My work reflects a strong commitment to factual reporting, ethical journalism and the continuous promotion of Ghanaian sports.

    I am currently pursuing my studies at Cape Coast Technical University, building on a solid foundation of media practice and communication. I previously served as a sports producer at Radio Gold (90.5) and Montie FM (100.1) in Accra, where I was actively involved in editorial planning, programme production, live commentary and in-depth sports analysis.

    Presently, I am a Senior Writer at SportsNetGhana.com, a role in which I produce well-researched features, match reports, athlete profiles and analytical pieces. My work consistently highlights emerging talents, captures key sporting developments and contributes to shaping informed sports discourse in Ghana.

    Over the course of my career, I have covered numerous major sporting events both locally and internationally. Among these, the highlight remains my coverage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, a significant milestone that strengthened my expertise in global football reporting and enhanced my understanding of international sports dynamics.

    I am widely recognised for my clarity of analysis, engaging commentary style and strong command of both local and global football trends. Beyond the newsroom, I participate in community initiatives aimed at developing young sports journalists and promoting youth engagement in sports.

    For professional engagements, media collaborations or enquiries, please contact me on 0265284330.

    View all posts

Comments are closed.