Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has provided an update on the severity of attacking midfielder Themba Zwane’s injury sustained during the 1-1 draw against Congo Brazzaville in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers on Tuesday night.

The Mamelodi Sundowns talisman, who earned his 51st cap for the South African national team, was forced off on the stroke of halftime with Orlando Pirates playmaker Patrick Maswanganyi entering the fray in his place.

Broos has now shed light on the nature of the injury, revealing that the 35-year-old is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines, which is a big blow for the Belgian mentor who has acknowledged Zwane’s importance to the team.

“Themba Zwane is a very important player for us,” Broos said. “So, it was not a good thing for us that He had to be forced off with an injury. It’s a big injury, an Achilles tendon, and I’m afraid he will be out for months.

The 72-year-old tactician went on to suggest that his team’s below-par display against the dominant Congolese is probably as a result of Zwane’s absence in the heart of the midfield, highlighting the Downs captain’s vital attributes.

“So, again, when you lose such an important player, it’s difficult, certainly in a game where you are dominated because Themba is someone who can keep the ball and who can give the last pass, so he was not there; maybe that is also one of the reasons we didn’t play so well,” Broos lamented. Meanwhile, Broos’ charges missed an opportunity to book their ticket to the 2025 AFCON in Morocco with two matches to spare following the draw, as Elias Mokwana saw his 33rd minute strike cancelled out by Congolese striker Andre Bassouamina just before the interval.

However, the Bafana coach remains unfazed and optimistic about his side’s chances of qualifying for the continental showpiece, stating that the scenario has not changed—the next two AFCON qualifiers are a must-win.

“No [the draw didn’t complicate anything], because we are still in the same situation, we still need a victory.  If we win against Uganda or South Sudan, we are qualified,” said Broos, who led Bafana Bafana to an AFCON bronze medal in Ivory Coast early this year.

South Africa will take on Uganda on 11 November before welcoming South Sudan on home soil eight days later as they continue their quest to confirm their spot for the AFCON in the last two qualifying matches set to take place during the next FIFA international break next month.