Who: Egypt vs South Africa
Contents: CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025
Location: Adrar Stadium, Agadir, Morocco
Date and time: Friday 4pm (GMT 15:00)
How to follow: All content will be broadcast on Al Jazeera Sports from 12:00 GMT, ahead of the text commentary stream.
Record-breaking African Cup of Nations winners Egypt will face South Africa on Friday in the first match of the Titans group competition in the 2025 Confederation of African Football (CAF) marquee fixture.
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Much of Egypt’s progress has been overshadowed by the public turmoil between superstar forward Mohamed Salah and his club team Liverpool, but they remain among the top-tier favorites to regain the AFCON crown.
Bafana Bafana was a rising force on the continent in the late 1990s and early 2000s, but until recently they had been largely overshadowed on the continent and the world stage.
However, expectations remain high and South Africa could make an early statement if they can defeat their opponents from the continent’s north coast.
Al Jazeera Sports has detailed coverage of this match.
What’s the latest on Salah’s future at Liverpool?
None of the news is likely to be good news for Liverpool fans who want one of the club’s most decorated and influential players in modern times to remain Premier League champions.
Reds manager Arn Slott said the club had “moved on” from Salah’s tirade when he claimed he had been “thrown under the bus” following a disastrous start to their title defense.
Although the buzz at Anfield has subsided, the picture remains that an offer from Saudi Arabia, who have made their interest in Salah clear, is likely to arrive in the January transfer window.
The 33-year-old former Chelsea and Roma forward himself is fully committed to helping Egypt win AFCON 2025, according to international coach Hossam Hassan.
Salah is a two-time Nations Cup runner-up in 2017 and 2021, but is yet to add an international honor to his long list of club trophies.
What happened in Egypt’s first match of AFCON 2025?
Salah got on the scoresheet for Egypt’s late winning goal in their first match of the tournament against Zimbabwe.
Despite Egypt having the upper hand in the early stages, Prince Dube turned the odds around in the 20th minute. Manchester City forward Omar Marmouche scored Egypt’s equalizer in the 64th minute, and Salah scored the winning goal in stoppage time.
What happened in South Africa’s first match of AFCON 2025?
South Africa opened the AFCON with a victory for the first time in 21 years with a 2-1 victory over neighboring Angola.
Group B has been seen as the group of death given Angola’s rise and Zimbabwe’s relative resurgence, but Lyle Foster’s win from outside the box looks crucial to Bafana Bafana’s hopes of progressing, especially given the Angolans’ failure to take at least a point in this match.
Oswin Apolis gave South Africa the lead, but Shaw equalized for Angola by the break.
How can a team qualify for the AFCON 2025 Final Round?
The top two teams in each group of six automatically qualify for the Round of 16, with the top four teams in the top three also advancing.
How is the situation in group B?
Egypt and South Africa both have three points and have the same goal difference after winning their first match.
Neither Zimbabwe nor Angola have been eliminated yet, but if Egypt or South Africa win in the second round of the group, the winner will advance to the knockout stage.
If either Zimbabwe or Angola lose in Monday’s match at the Marrakech Stadium, that team will most likely be eliminated.
When is the final group match between Egypt and South Africa?
Both teams will complete their groups on Monday. If either Angola or Zimbabwe win Friday’s match, the final group game will be tense, regardless of the outcome of the games between Egypt and South Africa.
Group B finals:
Angola vs Egypt (Adrar Stadium, 5pm/16:00 GMT) Zimbabwe vs South Africa (Marrakech Stadium, 5pm/16:00 GMT)
How many times has Egypt won AFCON?
Egypt has won a record seven AFCON titles, their last success coming in 2010. Their first success came in the first edition in 1957, when they defeated Ethiopia 4-0 in the final. From 2006 to 2010, the Egyptians won the AFCON three times in a row.
How many times has South Africa won the AFCON?
South Africa has only won this tournament once, in 1996 when they were the hosts. Bafana Bafana were also finalists in 1998, when they were bronze medalists at the last AFCON.
What is the most famous meeting between Egypt and South Africa?
South Africa’s defeat in the 1998 AFCON final was at the hands of Egypt.
The 2-0 victory clinched the Egyptians’ fourth title at the time and prevented Bafana Bafana from winning back-to-back titles, a feat only achieved by Ghana in 1963 and 1965. Since then, both Egypt and Cameroon have successfully defended their titles.
What happened the last time Egypt played South Africa?
The last meeting between the two teams took place in 2018, which was postponed until 2019, with South Africa’s Thembinkosi Lorhi scoring the only goal in a close-fought round of 16 with five minutes left in the game.
South Africa lost in the quarterfinals to Nigeria, which itself lost to eventual champions Algeria.
direct confrontation
This is the 10th time the two sides have met, with South Africa winning five times and Egypt winning four times.
Their first encounter was in an international friendly in 1995, with Bafana Bafana winning 2-0.
The Egyptians got their revenge the following year with a 1-0 victory at the 1996 AFCON.
egypt team news
Coach Hossam Hassan’s only concern is the knock on Mohamed Hamdi. Otherwise, Egypt is expected to be the same team that beat Zimbabwe.
South Africa team news
Hugo Blues is also expected to name the team that recorded a 2-1 win against Angola. However, Lelebohile Mofokeng’s wing position is most threatened, with Tshepang Moremi seeking a spot on the wing.
Egypt’s expected starting lineup
Mohamed El Shenawy. Mohamed Hany, Mohamed Abdelmadjid, Hossam Abdelmadjid, Mohamed Hamdi. Hamdi Fatih, Marwan Attia, Imam Ashour. Mohamed Salah (captain), Omar Marmouche, Trezeguet
South Africa’s projected starting lineup
Ronwen Williams (captain); Chryso Mdau, Siyabonga Ngezana, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Aubrey Modiba. Sphephelo sihor, teboho mokoena. Elias Mokwana, Lelebohile Mofokeng, Patrick Maswanganyi. Lyle Foster
