Egypt, Bafana battle for Group B ascendancy

Egypt and South Africa will battle for Group B ascendancy at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) when they meet at the Adrar Stadium in Agadir on the late afternoon of Friday 26 December.

Kick-off is at 5pm CAT.

CURRENT FORM

Egypt, record seven-time champions of the AFCON, needed an injury-time winner from talisman Mohamed Salah to overcome a determined Zimbabwe 2-1 in their Group B opener in Agadir on Monday night.

The Pharaohs looked in trouble for most of the match after the Warriors claimed a shock 20th minute lead via Prince Dube, but a superb equaliser from Omar Marmoush midway through the second half laid the platform for the Liverpool star to decide the game in added time.

South Africa, meanwhile, opened their AFCON campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Angola in Marrakesh on Monday, with goals from Oswin Appollis and Lyle Foster.

Bafana Bafana were outplayed by the Palancas Negras in the first half, but in the second stanza they upped their game and ultimately secured a deserved victory which has put them in a great position to secure progression beyond the group stage of the AFCON for an eighth time.

The results left Egypt and South Africa tied at the top of Group B on three points each. Angola and Zimbabwe, who meet in the group’s other match on Friday in Marrakesh, have zero points to their names.

WHAT THE TEAMS ARE SAYING

South Africa coach Hugo Broos knows that Egypt will likely pose a tougher test than Angola:

“Egypt are next and [they] will be at another level. But maybe those games are more [suitable] for us. Angola are not a team we know much about. It was also our first game in the tournament and we are still working out where we are good and where we are not. Now we know what we have to do. We showed it in the second half [against Angola] and we will try to do it against Egypt. Not losing will be a good result.”

Egypt coach Hossam Hassan expects an improvement from his team for the clash with South Africa:

---- NIGERIA ONLY ----

“Opening games are always difficult. The most important thing is winning these matches and securing the three points, and our performance in the upcoming matches will improve for the better. From now on, we are preparing for the South Africa match. I thank all the players for their efforts in the game.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

South Africa – Lyle Foster

Though he endured a mostly frustrating match against Angola, Foster came good when it really counted, providing a superb finish in the 79th minute to decide the opening Group B clash in favour of Bafana Bafana. Egypt’s defence will be organised and aggressive, but Foster will back himself to be a danger man once again.

Egypt – Omar Marmoush

The Manchester City forward netted an outstanding equaliser against Zimbabwe – a strike which was well deserved given the persistent threat he posed to the Warriors’ defence. Marmoush’s movement and ability to link well with the likes of Mohamed Salah will be key to the Pharaohs’ hopes on Friday.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Including all friendlies and two African Nations Championship (CHAN) playoff qualifiers (which are not technically ‘A’ level fixtures), South Africa have won eight of 14 matches against Egypt, with two draws and four defeats making up the balance of results.

The teams’ most recent ‘A’ level meeting was in the Round of 16 in the 2019 AFCON, with Bafana Bafana claiming a famous 1-0 triumph which knocked the Pharaohs out of their own host tournament.