Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos says opponents are preparing to fight harder against them, as he believes the team has become much stronger since the last Africa Cup of Nations.

South Africa claimed the bronze medal at the 2023 AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire after they defeated the Democratic Republic of Congo 6-5 on penalties in the third-place playoff.

The South African national have been drawn in Group B alongside the likes of Egypt, Angola and Zimbabwe.

Bafana are set to face Angola in their opening match in the group when the two sides meet at the Stade de Marrakech on Monday, 22 December.

“We showed that we are a good team (in the previous AFCON where Bafana Bafana finished with a bronze medal).

“Now everyone knows, everyone knows that we are a good team, and everyone knows that they will be ready to fight against us, try to win against us because winning against South Africa, now, is much different than winning two years ago.

“So it will be something different and I think we have to adapt ourselves from our first game already against Angola that we are ready. It will be like the previous AFCON.”