South Africa chase fast start to the Africa Cup of Nations

South Africa will chase a fast start to their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) group B campaign when they face Angola at the Marrakesh Stadium on the evening of Monday 22 December.

Kick-off is at 7pm CAT.

CURRENT FORM

South Africa, the 1996 Afcon champions, will be making their 12th appearance at the continental tournament and looking to build on their excellent showing in 2023 (played in 2024) in the Ivory Coast, where they claimed a third-placed finish.

Bafana Bafana qualified for this Afcon as winners of their preliminary group ahead of Uganda, Congo and South Sudan, and they kept up that form in the qualifiers for the 2026 Fifa World Cup, finishing top of their group ahead of Nigeria, Benin, Lesotho, Rwanda and Zimbabwe to book a spot in the global showpiece.

Hugo Broos’s side were most recently in action on Tuesday, 16 December, claiming a 1-0 win over a Ghana ‘B’ team in Soweto – with Sipho Mbule scoring the winning goal in the second half.

Angola will be making their 10th appearance at the Afcon. Their most recent showing in 2023 (played in 2024) saw them reach the quarterfinals – equalling their best tournament performance alongside 2008 and 2010.

The Palancas Negras qualified for this Afcon as winners of their preliminary group ahead of Sudan, Niger and Ghana, while their recent World Cup qualification campaign ended in disappointment, as they came home in fourth place in their group, behind Cape Verde, Cameroon and Libya – only ahead of Mauritius and Eswatini.

Coached by Patrice Beaumelle, Angola tuned up for the Afcon with a convincing 4-1 win over Mozambique in a friendly international on Wednesday, with Gelson Dala, Zito Luvumbo, David Carmo and Rui Modesto all finding the back of the net.

WHAT THE TEAMS ARE SAYING

South Africa coach Hugo Broos wants to see his side step up the level of performance for the clash with Angola:

“Let’s say I am happy with the result, but we can play much better,” said the Belgian after the victory over Ghana. “We didn’t play very well, we didn’t have the movement we are used to with this team. Our passing was not good, so there is still a lot of work to do for us to be at the highest level this week.

"Maybe there was something in the players’ heads that next week the Afcon starts, and they are a bit afraid to be injured or whatever. Again, we expected more. But this can happen. I remember two years ago, we were also terrible against Lesotho, so that gives us hope. I am sure the boys will be ready next week against Angola.”

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Angola goalkeeper Hugo Marques believes that his team should target progression into the knockout rounds as a realistic goal at this Afcon:

“We’re preparing to get through the group stage, and we think it’s possible. With a win in the group, we can get into the top third straight away, and that’s good,” said Marques. “At the last Afcon, Angola weren’t favourites in the group either and they came first, so that can tell you a lot about what’s to come in the round of 16. 

"Firstly, you could meet a third-placed team from another group. We have to do our job and try to get as far up the group as possible. From what we’ve been doing, if we don’t get through the group stage, it’ll be a big disappointment.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

South Africa – Teboho Mokoena

The mainstay of South Africa’s midfield, Teboho Mokoena, will look to dictate the pace and direction of Bafana Bafana’s play on Monday night. His extensive passing range, playmaker’s vision and powerful shooting will all be assets for the team in possession, while his positioning and leadership will be key to covering the defence when Angola have the ball.

Angola – Fredy

Alfredo Kulembe Ribeiro – known simply as ‘Fredy’ – is a hugely experienced midfielder, set to lead Angola at the 2025 Afcon. The 35-year-old midfielder, who is based in Turkey with FK Bodrum, will hope to dominate the engine room and lay the platform for an upset win in this opening group B match.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

South Africa and Angola have clashed 20 times (including non-A-level matches, such as in the African Games, Cosafa Cup and African Nations Championship), with Bafana boasting nine outright wins (plus one via penalties) to Angola’s three.

The teams last met in an international friendly in November 2022 at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, which ended 1-1, with Zini’s 20th minute opener for Angola cancelled out eight minutes later by a penalty from Zakhele Lepasa.