South Africa Face Egypt in High-Stakes AFCON Clash
South Africa national football team will look to settle an old score when they face Egypt national football team in a crucial Africa Cup of Nations Group B clash on Friday at 5pm.
Both sides come into the encounter level on three points after identical 2–1 victories in their opening matches. Bafana Bafana edged Angola thanks to goals from Oswin Appollis and Lyle Foster, while Egypt overcame Zimbabwe, with captain Mohamed Salah again the central figure.
The match carries extra weight given the long-standing AFCON rivalry between the two nations. Egypt defeated South Africa twice in the late 1990s at the tournament, but Bafana famously struck back by knocking Salah’s side out in the last 16 at AFCON 2019. Friday’s meeting offers South Africa a chance to level the AFCON head-to-head record and, more importantly, secure early qualification to the knockout stages.
Coach Hugo Broos has stressed the need for intensity and focus from the first whistle, warning against slow starts after lessons learned in the win over Angola. He believes his squad has the maturity and mindset to rise to the occasion.
Bafana arrive in confident mood after recent progress under Broos, including a third-place finish at the last AFCON and qualification for the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 2002. However, Egypt remain Africa’s most decorated nation and present the toughest test in the group.
The South African government has also rallied behind the team, praising their opening victory and calling on the nation to unite behind Bafana Bafana as they chase further success at AFCON 2025.
A win on Friday would not only send a strong statement but also bring South Africa one step closer to another deep continental run.