Get ready for an epic showdown as Egypt and South Africa face off in Group B of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025! Both teams kicked off their campaigns with thrilling 2-1 victories, setting the stage for an intense battle at the Grande Stade d'Agadir on December 26th. This encounter marks their fourth meeting at AFCON finals, with a rich history of clashes dating back to 1996.
Egypt holds a slight edge with two wins, while South Africa has one victory in their previous AFCON meetings. Their first encounter in 1996 saw Ahmed El Kaas' goal secure a 1-0 win for Egypt over the hosts in Johannesburg. But here's where it gets controversial... South Africa went on to become African champions that year, showing their resilience and determination.
In 1998, they met again in the final, and Egypt emerged victorious, claiming their fourth AFCON title with a 2-0 win in Ouagadougou. Ahmed Hassan and Tarek Mostafa struck early, scoring in the 5th and 13th minutes, respectively.
Fast forward to 2019, and South Africa pulled off an upset, eliminating hosts Egypt in Cairo with a 1-0 win in the Round of 16. Thembinkosi Lorch's 85th-minute strike sealed the deal for Bafana Bafana.
An interesting stat to note is that all three of Egypt's goals against South Africa at AFCON have come within the first 12 minutes of matches, highlighting the importance of a fast start.
Current players like Mohamed Salah, Trezeguet, and Mohamed El Shenawy were part of Egypt's squad when they lost to South Africa in 2019. Ronwen Williams, who was in goal for South Africa, faced three shots and made three saves in that match, showcasing his ability to keep his team in the game.
In their 2019 AFCON meeting, Trzeguet had two shots on target for Egypt, while Salah failed to get a shot on target. El Shenawy, on the other hand, faced six shots against Bafana Bafana, making five saves and conceding just one goal.
Egypt dominated possession in that match, with 62%, and completed more passes (401) than South Africa (215). Despite their statistical advantage, they couldn't find the back of the net.
The current Bafana Bafana assistant coach has a personal connection to these teams, having been involved in two AFCON games against Egypt, including the 1998 final loss. Egypt's coach, Hossam Hassan, also featured in that final, adding an intriguing layer to this rivalry.
South Africa's coach, Hugo Broos, has an impressive AFCON record, having led Cameroon to the title in 2017, defeating Egypt 2-1 in the final. This adds an extra layer of intrigue to the match, as Broos will be looking to continue his winning ways against Egypt.
Overall, these nations have met 14 times, with South Africa winning eight games, Egypt four, and two games ending in a draw. South Africa has an impressive recent record against Egypt, remaining undefeated in their last six encounters, winning four and drawing two.
Egypt's last victory over South Africa was a narrow 1-0 win in a friendly game back in 2006. Emad Moteab's early goal in the 3rd minute proved to be the difference.
Looking at their past meetings, Egypt has the edge in AFCON encounters, with two wins and a loss, while South Africa has one win and two losses.
In terms of key statistics, Egypt has shown resilience, coming from behind to defeat Zimbabwe in their opening group game, a feat they also achieved in 2004. They've gone 11 games unbeaten in open play, a testament to their defensive solidity.
South Africa, on the other hand, has broken their opening game jinx, winning for the first time since 2004. Their 2-1 win over Angola marked only the third time since 2004 that they've won a group-stage game against a country other than Namibia.
As we head into this highly anticipated match, the question remains: Can Egypt continue their winning streak and open an AFCON with successive victories? Or will South Africa's recent dominance continue, extending their unbeaten run against Egypt?
Join us as we witness this thrilling encounter, where history, statistics, and passion collide! Who will emerge victorious in this battle for Group B supremacy? The answer awaits on December 26th!
