South Africa begin their quest for a second continental crown this Monday as they take on Angola in a southern African derby that promises to set the tone for Group B.
Fresh from an impressive third-place finish in 2023, Bafana Bafana arrive in Morocco as genuine contenders. However, they face a Palancas Negras side that has become notoriously difficult to beat under new leadership.
Match details: Time and Venue
The clash will take place in the historic city of Marrakech, providing a grand backdrop for this opening Group B fixture.
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Date: Monday, 22 December 2025
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Kick-off: 17:00 GMT (18:00 local time)
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Venue: Grand Stade de Marrakech
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How to watch the game
- beIN SPORTS
- Channel 4
- South Africa: Live on SABC Sport and SuperSport PSL
- New World TV, Canal+ CAN, DAZN Switzerland, Free, Sunrise TV, SuperSport Grandstand HD, SuperSport MáXimo 360, SuperSport PSL HD.
Team News: Broos leans on local core
South Africa head coach Hugo Broos has stayed true to the formula that brought success in the Ivory Coast, naming a squad dominated by Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates stars.
The big news is the exclusion of veteran playmaker Themba Zwane due to fitness concerns, but all eyes will be on Burnley striker Lyle Foster, who is expected to lead the line. In midfield, the red-hot form of Oswin Appollis—who was involved in six goals during qualifying—makes him the man most likely to unlock the Angolan defense.
Angola enter a new era following the departure of Pedro Gonçalves. Frenchman Patrice Beaumelle, a two-time AFCON winner as an assistant, has taken the reins. He will rely on the firepower of Gelson Dala and Mabululu, though the squad must adapt quickly to Beaumelle’s more structured, defensive approach.
One-sided rivalry?
History is firmly on the side of the South Africans. Angola have only beaten Bafana Bafana once in 13 senior internationals, a run stretching back nearly 30 years.
“We are no longer the team that people expect to go home early,” Broos said. “Last year we showed we can compete with the best. But Angola are technical and very organized—if we are not at 100%, we will struggle.”
Angola, however, were one of the few teams to go through qualifying undefeated, conceding just twice in six matches. If they can frustrate South Africa’s fluid attacking rotations, a stalemate is a distinct possibility.
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Group B outlook
With record-winners Egypt and underdogs Zimbabwe also lurking in Group B, both sides know that a defeat in Marrakech could leave their knockout stage hopes hanging by a thread before Christmas.
| Team | AFCON Best | FIFA Ranking |
| Egypt | Winners (x7) | 30 |
| South Africa | Winners (1996) | 61 |
| Angola | Quarter-finals | 89 |
| Zimbabwe | Group Stage | 117 |
