Group B on a Knife Edge After Egypt 1–0 South Africa

Bafana Bafana have left themselves unnecessary work to do in Group B after a narrow 1–0 defeat to Egypt in Agadir. Mohamed Salah’s first-half penalty proved decisive, despite the Pharaohs playing the entire second half with 10 men following Mohamed Hany’s red card. South Africa dominated possession and chances late on but could not find an equaliser, setting up a high-stakes final group clash against Zimbabwe, who held Angola to a 1–1 draw.

AFCON 2025 | Group B Standings (After Matchday 2)

🕔FULL TIME | South Africa 0- 1 Egypt 🟥

Live Text  Ends |

Full Time

90’+12
The second half comes to an end.
Egypt 1, South Africa 0.

Handball by Relebohile Mofokeng.

90’+8
Attempt missed. Evidence Makgopa heads wide to the right from the centre of the box.
Assisted by Aubrey Modiba with a cross following a corner.

90’+8
Corner for South Africa. Conceded by Mohamed El Shenawy.

90’+7
Attempt saved. Siyabonga Ngezana heads from the centre of the box, saved low at the near post by Mohamed El Shenawy.
Assist by Teboho Mokoena with a cross.

90’+7
Corner for South Africa. Conceded by Mohamed Hamdy.

90’+6
Delay over. Play resumes.

90’+5
Play stopped due to an injury to Mohamed El Shenawy.

90’+5
Offside, South Africa. Relebohile Mofokeng is caught offside.

90’+2 – VAR Decision
No penalty for South Africa after VAR review.

90’+1
The fourth official signals 7 minutes of added time.

90’ – Substitution (Egypt)
Osama Faisal comes on for Mohamed Salah.

87’
Handball by Yasser Ibrahim.

86’
Attempt missed. Evidence Makgopa heads over from the centre of the box after a cross from Relebohile Mofokeng.

85’
Attempt blocked. Lyle Foster unleashes a right-footed effort from outside the box, but it’s blocked.
Assisted by Relebohile Mofokeng.

76’
Attempt missed. Marwan Attia right-footed shot from outside the box flies over the bar.
Assisted by Zizo.

75’ – Substitution (South Africa)
Evidence Makgopa comes on for Sphephelo Sithole.

74’
Attempt saved. Khuliso Mudau right-footed shot from the right side of the box is saved low at the near post by Mohamed El Shenawy.

72’
Attempt missed. Tshepang Moremi fires a left-footed effort from outside the box, sailing over.
Assisted by Teboho Mokoena.

72’
Khuliso Mudau wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Zizo.

71’
Delay over. Play resumes.

70’
Play stopped due to an injury to Mohamed El Shenawy (Egypt).

69’
Attempt missed. Teboho Mokoena right-footed shot from outside the box flies over.
Assisted by Mbekezeli Mbokazi following a corner.

69’ – Substitution (South Africa)
Relebohile Mofokeng replaces Oswin Appollis.

69’
Corner for South Africa. Conceded by Rami Rabia.

67’
Attempt blocked. Oswin Appollis right-footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
Assisted by Sipho Mbule.

67’
Attempt blocked. Oswin Appollis right-footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Sipho Mbule.

66’
Oswin Appollis wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Hamdi Fathy.

65’
Corner for Egypt. Conceded by Sipho Mbule.

64’
Corner for Egypt. Conceded by Siyabonga Ngezana.

62’
Offside, South Africa. Khuliso Mudau is caught offside.

62’
Attempt missed. Mbekezeli Mbokazi left-footed effort from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Oswin Appollis following a set-piece.

61’
Sipho Mbule wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Hamdi Fathy.

60’
Attempt saved. Emam Ashour right-footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Ronwen Williams. Assisted by Mohamed Salah.

60’
Foul by Siyabonga Ngezana.
Trézéguet wins a free kick in the attacking half.

58’
Attempt blocked. Trézéguet right-footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Zizo with a through ball.

58’
Attempt blocked. Trézéguet unleashes a right-footed shot from the left side of the box, but it’s blocked.

58’
Attempt missed. Aubrey Modiba strikes left-footed from outside the box, missing to the left.
Assisted by Siyabonga Ngezana.

57’
Attempt saved. Tshepang Moremi fires a left-footed shot from outside the box, saved low to the bottom right corner by Mohamed El Shenawy.
Assist by Khuliso Mudau.

52’
Foul by Sphephelo Sithole.

50’
Corner for South Africa. Conceded by Emam Ashour.

47’
Corner for South Africa. Conceded by Rami Rabia.

46’ – Substitution
South Africa change: Sipho Mbule replaces Thalente Mbatha.

46’ – Second Half
The second half gets underway. Egypt 1, South Africa 0.

First Half Key Events

45’ (PEN) – Mohamed Salah scores from the spot

45’+2 – Mohamed Hany sent off after a second yellow card 🟥

Match Stats (First Half)

Possession

Egypt: 47.8%

South Africa: 52.2%

Attacking

Shots: Egypt 2 | South Africa 1

Shots on Target: Egypt 1 | South Africa 1

Shots Off Target: Egypt 1 | South Africa 0

Touches in Opp. Box: Egypt 4 | South Africa 2

Corners: Egypt 2 | South Africa 0

Offsides: Egypt 0 | South Africa 2

Distribution

Total Passes: Egypt 193 | South Africa 217

Pass Accuracy: Egypt 85.5% | South Africa 86.2%

Forward Passes: Egypt 59 | South Africa 63

Long Balls: Egypt 25 | South Africa 25

Successful Final Third Passes: Egypt 23 | South Africa 11

Crosses: Egypt 6 | South Africa 4

Defensive / Discipline

Tackles: Egypt 6 | South Africa 5

Tackle Success: Egypt 33.3% | South Africa 60%

Clearances: Egypt 6 | South Africa 5

Fouls Committed: Egypt 5 | South Africa 6

Yellow Cards: Egypt 0 | South Africa 3

Half-Time Takeaway

South Africa have edged possession and passing control, but Egypt have been more incisive in the final third. The penalty separates the sides, while Egypt face the second half down to 10 men, setting up a tense Group B finish.

45’+5 – Half Time
The first half comes to an end. Egypt 1, South Africa 0.

45’+4
The delay is over and play resumes.

45’+3
Play is stopped due to an injury to Teboho Mokoena.

45’+2
Teboho Mokoena wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Mohamed Hany.

45’+1
The fourth official indicates 2 minutes of added time.

45’ – GOAL
Egypt 1, South Africa 0.
Mohamed Salah calmly converts the penalty, striking a left-footed effort straight down the middle of the goal.

42’
Penalty conceded by Khuliso Mudau after a foul inside the penalty area.

42’ – VAR Decision
Penalty confirmed for Egypt.

35’
Corner for Egypt. Conceded by Khuliso Mudau.

33’
Offside, South Africa. Lyle Foster is caught offside.

32’
Offside, South Africa. Tshepang Moremi is flagged offside.

30’ – Booking
Yasser Ibrahim is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

30’
Tshepang Moremi wins a free kick on the left wing.

35’
Corner for Egypt. Conceded by Khuliso Mudau.

33’
Offside, South Africa. Lyle Foster is flagged offside.

32’
Offside, South Africa. Tshepang Moremi is caught offside.

30’ – Booking
Yasser Ibrahim is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

30’
Tshepang Moremi wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Yasser Ibrahim.

30’
Khuliso Mudau wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Trézéguet.

29’
Attempt saved. Lyle Foster fires a left-footed shot from the left side of the box, saved centrally by Mohamed El Shenawy.
Assist by Teboho Mokoena.

28’
Foul by Oswin Appollis.
Mohamed Hamdy wins a free kick in the defensive half.

24’
Corner for Egypt. Conceded by Mbekezeli Mbokazi.

13’
Mohamed Salah wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Tshepang Moremi.

5’
Hamdi Fathy wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Lyle Foster.

4’
Mbekezeli Mbokazi wins a free kick for South Africa in the defensive half.
Foul by Mohamed Salah.

1’
Lyle Foster wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Hamdi Fathy.

1’ – Kick-off
The first half is underway.

1’
Line-ups are confirmed and both teams are out on the pitch going through their warm-up routines. The atmosphere is building as kickoff approaches. Match yet to start.

South Africa (Bafana Bafana)

Starting Line-up:

1. Ronwen Williams (c)

2. Khuliso Mudau

3. Siyabonga Ngezana

4. Mbekezeli Mbokazi

5. Aubrey Modiba

6. Sphephelo Sithole

7. Teboho Mokoena

8. Thabang Mbatha

9. Tshegofatso Moremi

10. Lyle Foster

11. Oswin Appollis

Substitutes:
15. B. Aubaas, 24. S. Campbell, 16. S. Chaine, 22. R. Goss, 18. S. Kabini,
23. E. Makgopa, 25. T. Matuludi, 17. S. Mbule, 10. R. Mofokeng,
12. E. Mokwana, 3. K. Ndamane, 11. M. Nkota, 19. N. Sibisi, 2. T. Smith

Egypt (The Pharaohs)

Manager: Hossam Hassan
Formation: 4-3-3

Starting Line-up:
23. Mohamed El Shenawy
12. Mohamed Hamdy
5. Rami Rabia
6. Yasser Ibrahim
3. Mohamed Hany
14. Hamdi Fathy
25. Zizo
19. Marwan Attia
7. Trézéguet
22. Omar Marmoush
10. Mohamed Salah (c)

Substitutes:
11. Mostafa Mohamed, 18. Mostafa Fathi, 8. Emam Ashour, 4. Hossam Abdelmaguid,
17. Mohanad Lasheen, 21. Osama Faisal, 24. Ahmed Eid, 20. Ibrahim Adel,
27. Mahmoud Saber, 15. Mohamed Shehata, 1. Ahmed El Shenawy,
13. Ahmed Abou El Fotouh, 26. Mostafa Shobeir, 9. Salah Mohsen, 2. Khaled Sobhy

Speaking ahead of the clash, Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos played down South Africa’s impressive 27-match unbeaten run across all competitions, insisting results matter more than records.

“We’re not chasing an unbeaten target,” Broos said. “Our focus is simple — to win every match. That’s our philosophy, and it’s what we try to show on the pitch.”

The Belgian tactician added that while the unbeaten streak is pleasing, it carries little weight compared to ultimate success at the tournament.

“Yes, it’s nice to have that record, but for me it’s the same — no more, no less. Winning is what matters.”

No festive distractions — both sides used Christmas Day to sharpen tactics, maintain momentum,

Both Bafana Bafana and the Pharaos were hard at work on Christmas Day as preparations intensified for their crucial Group B second-round clash.

• South Africa trained with high intensity and focus, building on confidence from their opening win. Morale in the Bafana camp remains strong, with the coaching staff stressing discipline and avoiding complacency as qualification comes into view.

• Egypt also held a full Christmas session, fine-tuning tactical plans aimed at containing South Africa’s aggressive, short-passing style.

Egypt vs South Africa — Head-to-Head

• 1996 AFCON (Group Stage): South Africa 0–1 Egypt

• 1998 AFCON Final: South Africa 0–2 Egypt

• 2006 Friendly: Egypt 1–2 South Africa

• 2006 Friendly: Egypt 1–0 South Africa

• 2011 AFCON Qualifier: South Africa 1–0 Egypt

• 2011 AFCON Qualifier: Egypt 0–0 South Africa

• 2016 Friendly: South Africa 1–0 Egypt

• 2019 AFCON Last 16: Egypt 0–1 South Africa

What They Said

Hossam Hassan (Egypt coach):
“South Africa are a very strong side and one of the teams showing top performance at this tournament. We respect them. Our history is balanced — sometimes they win, sometimes we do. This is a new opportunity. We’ve studied their strengths and weaknesses closely. They play aggressively with quick short passes, and as a technical team we’ve prepared plans to limit their impact.”

Mahmoud Hassan Trézéguet (Egypt winger):
“This is a massive match in our group and we want a positive result. We respect South Africa and their style. The technical team has prepared us well and we want to make the Egyptian people proud. What happened in 2019 is behind us — our full focus is on what’s ahead.”

Hugo Broos (South Africa coach):
“We’re excited for this challenge. Egypt are seven-time champions — that means something. They have world-class players like Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush, so it will be tough. But we believe in our own qualities and we’ll try to show them.”

Lyle Foster (South Africa striker):
“The mood in the camp is very positive after our opening win. Both teams are on three points, so this match is huge — a win puts one foot into the next round. Everyone is focused and driven. We won’t allow complacency to creep in; our standards are high and we’re ready.”

Stat of the Match

• South Africa are unbeaten in their last six meetings with Egypt (W4 D2).

• Egypt’s last win over South Africa came in a 1–0 friendly victory in London in 2006, scored in the third minute by Emad Moteab.

⏱️ Stay locked in for live updates, confirmed line-ups, tactical notes, and minute-by-minute coverage as Bafana Bafana and the Pharaohs collide in a Group B classic.

South Africa national football team head into today’s heavyweight Group B clash against Egypt national football team as underdogs — but with belief fuelled by memories of their iconic 1–0 victory over Egypt at the 2019 AFCON.

That night in Cairo, Bafana stunned the hosts in the Round of 16, eliminating Mohamed Salah and company. Six-and-a-half years on, only captain Ronwen Williams remains from that starting XI, yet the psychological imprint of that result still lingers.

Egypt winger Mahmoud Hassan dismissed any historical relevance ahead of kickoff:

“We are not thinking about the past. We are thinking about tomorrow’s match and trying to make our way.”

Tactical Talking Points

Bafana coach Hugo Broos faces several selection calls, particularly out wide and at centre-back. Substitute Tshepang Moremi impressed with his pace and directness in the 2–1 opening win over Angola, while Oswin Appollis again delivered on the big stage with a crucial goal.

At the back, Mbekezeli Mbokazi caught the eye — even rattling the crossbar with a long-range effort — but South Africa’s vulnerability at set pieces remains a concern, especially against Egypt’s physical presence.

For Egypt, Monday’s 2–1 win over Zimbabwe was unconvincing. After Prince Dube shocked the Pharaohs early, it took goals from Omar Marmoush and a stoppage-time winner from Mohamed Salah to avoid an opening-day stumble.

Key Match-Up

Salah was effectively neutralised in 2019 and failed to register a shot on target. While no longer at his absolute peak, he remains Egypt’s most decisive weapon. Aubrey Modiba, excellent going forward against Angola, faces his sternest defensive test yet.

Match Details

Date: Friday, 26 December 2025

Kick-off: 17:00 CAT | 15:00 GMT

Venue: Stade Adrar

TV: SuperSport, SABC 2 (South Africa) | Channel 4 (UK)

Team News

Egypt:

Doubts: Mohamed Hamdy (LB), Mostafa Mohamed (ST)

South Africa:

Full squad available

Themba Zwane not selected due to ongoing injury concerns

Expected Line-ups

Egypt (4-2-3-1)

Mohamed El Shenawy
Mohamed Hany – Yasser Ibrahim – Hossam Abdelmaguid – Ahmed Fatouh
Marwan Attia – Hamdy Fathy
Trézéguet – Emam Ashour – Mohamed Salah
Omar Marmoush

South Africa (4-2-3-1)

Ronwen Williams
Khuliso Mudau – Mbekezeli Mbokazi – Siyabonga Ngezana – Aubrey Modiba
Teboho Mokoena – Sphephelo ‘Yaya’ Sithole
Oswin Appollis – Sipho Mbule – Tshepang Moremi
Lyle Foster

Key Stats & Trends

Mohamed Salah has 8 AFCON goals, four shy of Hassan El-Shazly’s Egyptian record

Bafana have lost only once under Hugo Broos since the last AFCON — a forfeit vs Lesotho

Last AFCON meeting (2019):

Ronwen Williams made 3 saves

Salah had 0 shots on target

AFCON H2H:

Egypt wins: 1996, 1998

South Africa win: 2019

Verdict

Egypt carry pedigree and star power, but Bafana arrive organised, confident, and tactically mature. If South Africa manage Salah again and sharpen their set-piece defending, another famous AFCON chapter could be written in Agadir.