Zambia coach Moses Sichone will on Monday finally get the opportunity to be on the bench in charge of his team for the first time on Monday after missing his debut last month.

Zambia take on Mali in Casablanca in the Africa Cup of Nations Group A after hosts Morocco beat Comoros 2-0 in Sunday’s tournament opener in Rabat.

Sichone was appointed in November as successor to Avram Grant, who left the Zambia job in late October after a poor run of results in World Cup qualifying, less than two months before the Cup of Nations in Morocco was due to start.

Former Bundesliga defender Sichone suffered food poisoning and was bedridden when Zambia played South Africa in a friendly, and he was admitted to the hospital while his team travelled to Angola for another warm-up game.

-Reuters

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By Kunle Solaja.

Seven-time African champions Egypt will be aiming for a positive start to their Africa Cup of Nations campaign on Monday when they face Zimbabwe in their Group B opener, as the Pharaohs begin the quest for a record-extending eighth continental title.

Egypt coach Hossam Hassan has underlined the importance of the opening fixture, describing it as crucial to setting the tone for the rest of the tournament.

“The opening match is always important in the Africa Cup of Nations,” Hassan said at a pre-match news conference on Sunday. “It gives confidence and strong motivation for the remainder of the group stage and the tournament as a whole.”

The Pharaohs are drawn in Group B alongside Zimbabwe, Angola and South Africa, in what promises to be a competitive section.

Despite their storied history, Egypt have not lifted the AFCON trophy since 2010. They endured a difficult spell thereafter, missing three consecutive tournaments between 2012 and 2015, before returning to lose the 2017 final to Cameroon.

Egypt reached the final again in 2021, only to suffer heartbreak in a penalty shootout defeat to Senegal, while their most recent appearance ended in disappointment with a round-of-16 exit in 2023.

Hassan insists this campaign will be different.

“We will do everything possible to win the title this year,” the 59-year-old, a three-time AFCON winner as a player, told the Confederation of African Football (CAF) website. “Achieving that requires tremendous effort from every member of the team.

“Egypt is always among the favourites in any competition because of its rich history, particularly in the Africa Cup of Nations, where we hold the record with seven titles.”

Despite qualifying unbeaten for both the AFCON and the World Cup, concerns remain over Egypt’s recent form, particularly in defence. Those weaknesses were exposed in a 2-0 loss to Uzbekistan at an international tournament in the United Arab Emirates in November, although signs of improvement were evident in a 2-1 friendly win over Nigeria in their final warm-up match.

Egypt’s attacking options, however, remain among the strongest on the continent. Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, Manchester City winger Omar Marmoush and Nantes striker Mostafa Mohamed form a formidable frontline, supported by a solid midfield including Mahmoud ‘Trezeguet’ Hassan, Marwan Attia and Emam Ashour, whose starting role remains uncertain following a long injury layoff.

“We have a wonderful generation with high-level ability and great potential, capable of competing for the title,” Hassan added.

Zimbabwe coach Marian Marinica acknowledged the scale of the task facing his side, especially with several players struggling with injuries, but insisted the Warriors would not be intimidated by Egypt’s reputation or star power.

“It will be a tough game because we are facing a big team,” Marinica said. “The situation is very difficult. We are missing seven players due to injury, and we are not sure all of them will be ready for tomorrow’s game.

“Salah and Marmoush are big names, but we are not worried. If we were, it would be better to stay at home. We are not thinking about individuals, but about the opponent as a team.

“We only want to apply what we worked on in training, and we hope to achieve the best possible result.”

As Egypt chases history and Zimbabwe seeks an upset, Monday’s Group B opener could prove decisive in shaping the early momentum of the AFCON campaign.

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By Kunle Solaja

Two familiar southern African rivals, South Africa and Angola, will lock horns when they meet in their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) group-stage encounter in Morocco, with both teams keen to make an early statement in a tightly contested section.

For Bafana Bafana, the match represents another opportunity to build on the renewed optimism that followed their impressive bronze-medal finish at the 2023 AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire.

Coach Hugo Broos has injected discipline and tactical clarity into the South African side, blending experienced heads with emerging talents drawn largely from the domestic league. That cohesion was evident in Côte d’Ivoire and in the World Cup 2026 qualifying series. That remains the backbone of their approach as they seek to progress beyond the Africa Cup of Nations group stage once again.

South Africa’s strength lies in their compact defensive structure and quick transitions, with the midfield expected to play a decisive role in dictating tempo. Avoiding early mistakes will be key, especially against opponents who thrive on physicality and direct play.

Angola, meanwhile, arrive with confidence and quiet ambition. The Palancas Negras were among the surprise packages of the last AFCON, where their energetic displays and tactical discipline earned them widespread admiration.

 Under coach Patrice Beaumelle, Angola have developed a reputation for organisation, swift counter-attacks and collective resilience — qualities that make them a difficult opponent for any side.

Historically, encounters between the two nations have been closely fought, often defined by narrow margins and high intensity. Familiarity adds an extra edge to the contest, with both teams well aware of each other’s strengths and weaknesses.

With group qualification likely to hinge on fine details, this fixture could prove pivotal. A win would significantly boost momentum and ease pressure ahead of the remaining matches, while a draw may leave both sides with little margin for error.

As AFCON 2025 gathers pace, South Africa versus Angola promises a compelling duel of discipline, determination and regional pride — a contest where patience and precision may ultimately decide the outcome.

Head-to-Head Overall

South Africa: P19 W9 D6 L4 GF21 GA19 
Angola: P19 W4 D6 L9 GF19 GA21 

Head-to-Head AFCON

South Africa: P4 W2 D2 L0 GF4 GA1 
Angola: P4 W0 D2 L2 GF1 GA4 

Past AFCON Meetings

1996 AFCON, Group A, 20 January 1996
South Africa 1 (Williams 57’) Angola 0
Soccer City, Johannesburg, South Africa

1998 AFCON, Group C, 8 February 1998
South Africa 0 Angola 0
Stade Municipal, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso

2008 AFCON, Group D, 23 January 2008
South Africa 1 (Van Heerden 87’) Angola 1 (Manucho 29’)
Tamale Stadium, Tamale, Ghana

2013 AFCON, Group A, 23 January 2013
South Africa 2 (Sangweni 30’, Majoro 62’) Angola 0
Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban, South Africa

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