South Africa

Shape: South Africa typically line up in a compact 4-2-3-1/4-3-3 under Hugo Broos, with a disciplined mid-block and emphasis on vertical passes through Mokoena into the forwards.[6][8] Full-backs provide width while attackers like Appollis and Foster look to exploit space in transition rather than sustained high-possession play.[6][8]

Numbers: Recent competitive games show South Africa creating a moderate volume of chances but finishing efficiently, particularly when Foster starts, while conceding relatively few high-quality shots thanks to a narrow, protected back four.[6][8] Their expected-goals difference against similarly ranked African opposition has been slightly positive, but it tends to dip when chasing games late on.[6][8]