A first-half penalty from Mohamed Salah proved decisive as Egypt overcame South Africa 1–0 despite playing the entire second half with 10 men, securing early qualification for the knockout stage of the Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 on Friday.

The Group B encounter brought together the two early pace-setters, with both Egypt and South Africa having collected three points from their opening matches. The Pharaohs edged Zimbabwe 2–1 in their opener, while Bafana Bafana defeated Angola by the same margin.

Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan made two changes to his starting line-up, introducing Rami Rabia and Ahmed ‘Zizo’ Sayed and switching to a 3-4-3 formation. The opening exchanges were cagey, though Egypt applied the early pressure.

The first real chance arrived in the 11th minute when Zizo threaded a precise pass behind the South African defence. Mohamed Hany surged forward and attempted to square for the unmarked Salah, but his cross carried too much weight for the Liverpool forward to connect.

Egypt continued to probe, and Omar Marmoush went close in the 22nd minute, his right-footed free-kick from just outside the area shaving the left post.

South Africa responded through Lyle Foster, whose low effort from inside the box was comfortably gathered by goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy.

The breakthrough came five minutes before the interval. Following a VAR review, Burundian referee Pacifique Ndabihawenimana awarded Egypt a penalty after Salah was brought down by Khuliso Mudau inside the area. Salah stepped up and converted confidently down the middle, sending Ronwen Williams the wrong way.

Moments later, the momentum shifted sharply against Egypt as Mohamed Hany received a second yellow card for a foul on Teboho Mokoena, reducing the Pharaohs to 10 men for the remainder of the contest.

Hassan reshaped his side at half-time, withdrawing Marmoush for Emam Ashour and pushing Salah into a central attacking role. South Africa began the second half aggressively, seeking to capitalise on their numerical advantage.

Wave after wave of pressure followed, but El-Shenawy delivered a goalkeeping masterclass. The Egypt captain produced outstanding saves to deny Evidence Makgopa, Mokoena and Aubrey Modiba, performances that would later earn him the Man of the Match award.

Egypt almost doubled their lead on the hour mark when substitute Ashour unleashed a powerful strike from close range, only for Williams to respond with an excellent save to keep South Africa in contention.

Despite tactical changes by South Africa coach Hugo Broos, Egypt’s defensive organisation and El-Shenawy’s heroics held firm. In the final minute of regulation time, South Africa appeals for a handball against Yasser Ibrahim — as Salah was being substituted for Osama Faisal — were dismissed after another VAR check.

Deep into stoppage time, Relebohile Mofokeng and Modiba both fired from close range, but El-Shenawy produced two more spectacular saves to preserve the clean sheet.

The victory lifts Egypt to six points at the top of Group B, making them the first team at AFCON 2025 to book a place in the knockout phase. The Pharaohs will conclude their group campaign against Angola on Monday, with qualification already assured.

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Second matchday, and already a sense of judgment — with history added to the stakes.

Angola and Zimbabwe will contest the first-ever Africa Cup of Nations match to be played on Boxing Day when they meet on Friday at the Grand Stade de Marrakech, in what has quickly assumed the character of an early knockout encounter at the Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025.

Both sides arrive bruised by opening-day defeats and acutely aware that another setback could leave qualification hopes hanging by a thread. In a tightly balanced group where margins are minimal, the festive-date fixture carries uncommon weight for such an early stage of the competition.

Angola seek conversion, not revolution

From the Angolan camp, frustration rather than panic defines the mood. The Palancas Negras dominated long stretches of their opening match, created clear chances, yet walked away empty-handed — a disconnect between performance and result that still lingers.

Head coach Patrice Beaumelle has ruled out wholesale changes, opting instead for continuity and sharper execution.

“We faced a solid team and showed good things,” Beaumelle said. “At this level, mistakes are punished immediately.”
For Angola, the task is now to turn intention into efficiency, balancing urgency with composure as pressure inevitably rises.

Defensive leader Jonathan Buatu echoed that measured approach, stressing that confidence remains intact. “We played against a very good team, unbeaten for a long time. That shows our performance was not poor. Now the important thing is to keep what we did well and correct our mistakes,” he said.

Zimbabwe fight with backs to the wall

Zimbabwe approach the Boxing Day showdown with equal urgency, but also renewed belief. Cruelly beaten in the closing minutes of their opening match, the Warriors nonetheless displayed organisation, pace and intensity capable of unsettling opponents.

Head coach Marian Marinica insists the setback must not derail their identity. “In this group, all teams still have a chance. The past is behind us; we must look forward,” he said, acknowledging the emotional control required in a match where “one of the two teams will have to give way.”

Captain Marvelous Nakamba reinforced that message from within the squad. “We are training well, we have analysed our first match, and now everything is focused on this game. We want to give everything and get a positive result,” the midfielder said.

History and urgency collide

Beyond its Boxing Day novelty, the fixture carries a familiar competitive edge. Angola and Zimbabwe have met four times in AFCON qualifiers — in 1998 and 2013 — with Angola advancing on each occasion. They also crossed paths in the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, winning their respective home matches before Angola ultimately secured a place at the finals in Germany.

Across their last four meetings, Angola hold the advantage with three wins to Zimbabwe’s one, though it was the Warriors who claimed the very first encounter in a 3–2 friendly victory back in 1985.

On a day traditionally reserved for celebration, there will be little room for comfort in Marrakech. For Angola and Zimbabwe, this historic Boxing Day clash is less about festivities — and more about survival.

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Second match, and already a defining examination for tournament hosts Morocco.

After a controlled 2–0 victory over Comoros in their opening fixture, the Atlas Lions return to action in Group A of the Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 knowing that a second successive win would all but secure passage to the knockout phase. Standing in their way is a Mali side under pressure to deliver, yet determined to stay faithful to its attacking identity in what promises to be a far sterner contest than rankings alone suggest.

Morocco head coach Walid Regragui made no attempt to soften the significance of the encounter, describing the clash with Mali as “the real start of the competition.” While pleased with his team’s composure and structure against Comoros, Regragui stressed that the context has now shifted.

“The first match is always complicated in the history of the AFCON,” he said at his pre-match press conference. “The second one is different. We are facing a team we know very well, and that knows us very well.”

As hosts, Morocco continue to embrace the weight of expectation that comes with home advantage. Regragui reiterated that the pressure associated with their status has been “assumed for months,” and there is no intention of retreating from it.

While acknowledging that possession was occasionally sterile in the first half of the opener, he defended the overall performance, pointing to control, patience and the ability to unlock a compact opponent. “At the highest level, football is also about solving problems during the match,” he explained, highlighting the squad’s mental strength and adaptability.

On the fitness front, Morocco’s concerns are minimal. Captain Romain Saïss remains sidelined by a minor muscle issue, while Achraf Hakimi is being carefully managed as he continues his progressive return. “We are preparing him for the whole tournament, not just one game,” Regragui emphasised. He also urged patience with emerging talents such as Abdelhamid Aït Boudlal, describing the young defender as “a real prospect” who should not be rushed.

From the Malian camp, the tone is one of respect without inferiority. Head coach Tom Saintfiet openly recognises Morocco as one of the continent’s strongest sides, but insists his team has the tools to compete.

The 1–1 draw with Zambia in their opening match, after long spells of control, brought frustration, yet it has not altered Mali’s approach. “We need points against Morocco,” Saintfiet admitted, while firmly rejecting any ultra-defensive mindset. Despite playing in front of a home crowd expected to exceed 60,000 spectators, Mali will not “park the bus.”

“We have good players, and we will play offensively,” he said, recalling a previous victory over Morocco achieved with limited possession but ruthless efficiency.

“The pressure is mainly on Morocco. They are seen as major favourites, they are playing at home and they have a very strong team. We are coming without any inferiority complex. All 28 players are ready to fight together.”

Midfielder Yves Bissouma echoed that focus, insisting that club-level issues have been set aside. “What matters today is Mali. The rest doesn’t interest me,” the Tottenham player said.

Despite Morocco’s status as favourites, Regragui remains wary. “Mali have always produced great players — that is part of their history,” he noted. “Whenever they play Morocco, you feel that extra motivation. It often pushes them to go beyond themselves, to run more and raise their level.”

The meeting also carries historical weight. This will be only the second time Morocco and Mali face each other in the final phase of the Africa Cup of Nations, following their semi-final encounter in 2004.

Played in Tunis, that match ended in a 4–0 victory for Morocco — still the biggest win in the country’s AFCON history and Mali’s heaviest defeat at the finals. Notably, Regragui himself started that match more than two decades ago.

On Friday night, with qualification within reach for one side and momentum at stake for the other, history, expectation and ambition converge — making Morocco versus Mali a true early marker of how far each team can go at AFCON 2025.

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