Belgian Broos famously took a young Cameroon team to the title in 2017 when they defeated Egypt in the final, but left his post 10 months later having been forced out.
He joined South Africa in May 2021 and has become their longest-serving coach, taking the team to the bronze medal in Ivory Coast two years ago and the World Cup finals later in 2026.
“I would have preferred to meet Cameroon in the final. It's obvious. Maybe it's a little too early now to meet now,” Broos told reporters on Saturday. “It is a very special match for me and I think you understand why.
“Even though there are not many players left from my time there, I think only one remains, I’m not completely sure. But when you win something with a country, there is always a small place in your heart that stays for the rest of your life. That is the case with Cameroon and me.
“It's not because I said it will be a special match for me that we will leave spaces (on the pitch). There will be no mercy tomorrow. I have to win this game tomorrow because I am the coach of South Africa."
Broos says he has been pleasantly surprised by Cameroon in the competition after they took seven points from their three Group F games to finish second in the pool behind Ivory Coast.
“I was a little surprised by this Cameroon team. It has changed a lot compared to the side that played the World Cup qualifiers,” he said. “I was surprised by the way they play. It has become a very good team.
“It’s young, with some talented players, good fighting spirit and a strong mentality. That means tomorrow we have to reach our best level if we want to beat them.”
Broos then took another wipe at tournament organisers with South Africa forced to stay in a hotel 45 minutes’ drive from their training venue, which is also the home of Moroccan football where their prospective quarter-final opponents also prepare.
He suggested that it leaves either his side or Cameroon open to having their training sessions assessed by Morocco, whoever makes it through to face the hosts.
“I have to say I’m not very happy with the current situation. We are 45 minutes away from our training session, which means, like yesterday, we will spend more than three hours travelling – 45 minutes to drive, one hour and 15 minutes of training, and then another 45 minutes to drive back. No, that doesn’t make me happy at all.
“If my information is correct, Cameroon and ourselves have to train at the base camp of Morocco, our next opponents. I don’t understand how CAF allowed that, but OK …
“I have to say it because it makes me unhappy ahead of tomorrow’s game.”