Regional rivals Zimbabwe and South Africa bring the Group B action to a dramatic close this Monday in Marrakech, with both sides’ tournament lives hanging in the balance in a high-stakes “Limpopo Derby.”
South Africa occupies the vital second spot after a mixed start—beating Angola 2-1 before falling to a narrow 1-0 defeat against Egypt. Zimbabwe, meanwhile, sit on a single point but remain mathematically alive.
For the Warriors, nothing less than a win will do, while Bafana Bafana know that a victory secures their passage, though a draw might leave them sweating on other results to qualify as a best third-placed team.
Match details: Time and Venue
This Southern African showdown takes place at the historic Marrakech Stadium, running simultaneously with Egypt’s clash against Angola to ensure fair play.
- Date: Monday, 29 December 2025
- Kick-off: 16:00 GMT (17:00 local time)
- Venue: Grand Stade de Marrakech, Marrakech
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Where to watch the game globally
The “Limpopo Derby” is expected to draw massive audiences across the COSAFA region and beyond:
- UK: Channel 4 (Free-to-air) and the Channel 4 Sport YouTube channel.
- USA & Canada: beIN SPORTS; streaming via Fubo and Fanatiz.
- South Africa: SABC 1, SABC+ app, and SuperSport (English/Portuguese).
- Zimbabwe: ZBC TV and SuperSport.
- North Africa & MENA: beIN SPORTS MENA.
- Australia & NZ: beIN SPORTS CONNECT.
Team news
South Africa head coach Hugo Broos is likely to demand more clinical finishing after his side failed to breach the Egyptian defense. Lyle Foster, who netted the winner against Angola, will again be the focal point of the attack. Bafana Bafana’s defense, led by the reliable Ronwen Williams, has looked solid but will need to be wary of the Warriors’ counter-attacking threat. No new injury concerns have been reported following the Egypt game.
Zimbabwe have been handed a major boost with the return of several key figures. Knowledge Musona, who scored the vital equalizer against Angola on Friday, has declared himself 100% fit, while Mamelodi Sundowns left-back Divine Lunga is also back in contention. However, coach Mario Marinică is sweating on the fitness of defender Munashe Garananga, who picked up a knock in the previous match. Prince Dube, who scored in the opener against Egypt, is expected to partner Musona upfront.
More than just three points
This fixture carries a heavy weight of regional pride and historical drama:
- Derby factor: Known as the “Limpopo Derby,” this is one of Africa’s most played international fixtures. While South Africa has dominated the overall record, Zimbabwe famously beat Bafana 2-1 in their last competitive meeting in 2021.
- Survival stat: Zimbabwe has never progressed past the AFCON group stages in five previous attempts. A win on Monday would not only break that curse but likely do so at the expense of their biggest rivals.
- Bafana’s defensive wall: Despite the loss to Egypt, South Africa has conceded just two goals in their last five matches across all competitions, a streak they’ll need to maintain to keep Musona and Dube at bay.
One more sleep!
⚽️ Zimbabwe 🇿🇼 vs 🇿🇦 South Africa
🗓 29 December 2025
⏰️ 18h00 (SA time)
🏟 Stade de Marrakech #BafanaPride@10bet_ZA @CastleLagerSA@HonorAfrica @SABC_Sport @Shield_ZA pic.twitter.com/hyLMSqtI2G— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) December 28, 2025
Hugo Broos was clear about the intensity expected in Marrakech:
“In a derby, form goes out the window. Zimbabwe will play this like a final because for them, it is a final. We have the advantage in the table, but we cannot play for a draw. We must be aggressive from the first minute to secure our place in the Round of 16.”
