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AFCON round-of-16 exit: Who stood out for South Africa?
The Mercury
|January 07, 2026
BAFANA Bafana’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign came to an abrupt end in the round of 16, offering moments of promise alongside clear areas for growth.
While Hugo Broos’ side showed resilience and flashes of quality against Africa’s elite, inconsistency across the pitch ultimately proved costly. As South Africa reflect on their early exit, some players emerged with credit, while others saw the tournament as a missed opportunity to make their mark. Here, we rate those who saw a decent amount of minutes on. the field.
Ronwen Williams - 5/10
Reliable on the goal line, the Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper could do little as six goals were conceded across the tournament, many through no fault of his own. More than just a shot-stopper, Williams played a key leadership role, helping marshal a new defensive partnership while leading the side as captain.
Aubrey Modiba - 5/10
Modiba delivered a steady campaign, with his energy down the left flank fitting well into Broos’ system during the opening matches. Decent both defensively and in attack, he was solid in the minutes he was afforded in the tournament.
Mbekezeli Mbokazi - 6/10
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