AFCON 2025: Egypt vs South Africa Match Preview & Fixtures

📅 Match Preview: Egypt vs South Africa – AFCON 2025 Group B

The Africa Cup of Nations 2025 (AFCON), hosted in Morocco, continues to heat up as Egypt and South Africa collide in a pivotal Group B clash on Friday, 26 December 2025 at the Le Grand Stade d’Agadir. A top-of-the-table showdown, both teams come into this fixture unbeaten with three points each from opening matches. Africa Soccer

Kick-off: 16:00 local time (CAT)
Venue: Le Grand Stade d’Agadir, Agadir Africa Soccer

🏆 Fixture & Group B Context

Group B has delivered drama from the outset:

Egypt opened their campaign with a dramatic 2–1 win over Zimbabwe, sealed by a last-gasp goal from Mohamed Salah. Outlook India+1
South Africa matched that result with a 2–1 victory over Angola, thanks to a key goal from Lyle Foster. Africanews

Both sides sit level on three points, making this encounter crucial for Group B’s early pecking order. Africa Soccer

🔥 Team Form & What to Expect

🇪🇬 Egypt – Seven-Time Champions

Egypt enter as one of Africa’s most decorated sides, aiming to assert early dominance in the group. After surviving a tough opening test against Zimbabwe, the Pharaohs will look for a more controlled performance. Their star attacker Mohamed Salah has been in fine form, scoring late to secure the win and maintain his remarkable AFCON scoring streak. Reuters

Key Strengths:

Attacking talent with Salah and Omar Marmoush
Strong possession game and creativity

Potential Weaknesses:

Defensive lapses and transition vulnerabilities highlighted in their opener Daily Sports

🇿🇦 South Africa – Bafana Bafana

South Africa have started confidently, showcasing tactical discipline and broad squad health. Their pragmatic style under coach Hugo Broos combines solid defence with rapid counters, making them difficult to break down. Daily Sports

Key Strengths:

Compact defence and quick transitions
In-form striker Lyle Foster

Team News:
South Africa enter this fixture with no major injury issues reported, potentially fielding their strongest XI. Yahoo Sports

📋 Team News & Line-Ups (Predicted)

Egypt (likely):
El Shenawy; Hany, Abdelmaguid, Ibrahim, Ahmed Fotouh; Marwan Attia, Hamdi Fathi; Mohamed Salah, Emam Ashour, Trezeguet; Omar Marmoush. Yahoo Sports

South Africa (likely):
Ronwen Williams; Mudau, Ngezana, Mbokazi, Modiba; Sithole, Mokoena, Mbule, Appollis; Nkota; Lyle Foster. Yahoo Sports

📊 Head-to-Head & Stats

The sides have a competitive history, with South Africa holding a slight edge in past meetings. Goal
Both teams are likely to test each other, with Egypt favouring possession and South Africa ready to exploit space on the break. Football Tips

🔮 Prediction & What to Watch

Expect a tactical battle where every mistake could count. Egypt’s creative superiority may be countered by South Africa’s disciplined approach. Many previews suggest a tight game, with under 2.5 goals a common prediction and both teams likely to find chances. Daily Sports

Prediction Snapshot:

Egypt win: Slight favourite
Both teams to score: Likely
Goals under 2.5: Popular prediction

📌 Conclusion

This Egypt vs South Africa clash is shaping up as one of AFCON 2025’s most intriguing group games. With both nations unbeaten and chasing top spot in Group B, expect high intensity and plenty of tactical nuance. Fans should tune in early to catch all the action live from Agadir.

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