Egypt and South Africa have opened their Group B campaigns at the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 with identical 2‑1 victories—Egypt over Zimbabwe and South Africa over Angola. The two sides will meet on 26 December at the Grande Stade d’Agadir, with kickoff at 16:00 local time (15:00 GMT).
This will be the fourth AFCON finals encounter between the nations, following meetings in 1996, 1998 and 2019. Egypt currently leads the head‑to‑head record with two wins to South Africa’s one. Their most recent clash came in the 2019 tournament, when South Africa produced a shock 1‑0 upset in Cairo, eliminating the hosts in the Round of 16. The decisive goal was scored by Thembinkosi Lorch in the 85th minute.
Egypt’s coach, Hossam Hassan, played in the 1998 final when Egypt defeated South Africa 2‑0 in Burkina Faso. South Africa’s manager, Hugo Broos, boasts his own AFCON pedigree, having guided Cameroon to the 2017 title with a 2‑1 victory over Egypt in the final in Libreville.
As the two teams prepare to face each other again, their past meetings underscore a competitive rivalry. Both sides are eager to make a strong impression in the tournament, and the December 26 match is expected to be closely contested. The result will not only affect their current campaigns but also add another chapter to their evolving AFCON history, with significant implications for the Group B standings and the teams’ progression in the competition.
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