On Monday night, Bafana Bafana discovered their opponents for the group stages of the 2025 CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) following Monday night’s Final Draw in Rabat, Morocco.
Bafana Bafana drawn against Egypt in Group B
The South African men’s national team, led by head coach Hugo Broos, will compete in Group B alongside seven-time AFCON champions Egypt, Angola, and Zimbabwe.
The draw places South Africa against one of the tournament’s favourites, Egypt, spearheaded by Liverpool star Mohamed Salah.
This matchup is expected to draw significant attention, given the historical rivalry between the two sides and Egypt’s formidable track record in African football.
Angola and Zimbabwe, both familiar foes for South Africa, complete the group. Zimbabwe’s participation marks a comeback after missing the 2023 edition due to a FIFA suspension.
Under-fire SAFA President Dr Danny Jordaan, Bafana Bafana assistant coach Helman Mkhalele, and Team Manager Vincent Tseka represented South Africa at the draw.
Bafana Bafana earned their place in AFCON 2025 after topping Group K last year, showcasing consistent form that has turned them into a challenging opponent for many on the continent.
However, with the tournament set to kick off on 21 December 2025, South Africa has 11 months to fine-tune their strategies and prepare for their Group B battles.
AFCON 2025 draw: Here are the final groups
The AFCON 2025 draw has set the stage for exciting matchups in the group stage, with several high-stakes encounters lined up.
The hosts, Morocco, were drawn into Group A and will face Comoros in the opening match of the competition.
Other highlights include Morocco versus Mali, Nigeria against Tunisia, and an enticing clash between Cote d’Ivoire and Cameroon in Group F.
Here are the finalised AFCON 2025 groups:
Group | Teams |
---|---|
A | Morocco, Mali, Zambia, Comoros |
B | Egypt, South Africa, Angola, Zimbabwe |
C | Nigeria, Tunisia, Uganda, Tanzania |
D | Senegal, DR Congo, Benin, Botswana |
E | Algeria, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan |
F | Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Gabon, Mozambique |