Matchday one results confirmed Egypt and South Africa as the frontrunners in Group B, and this meeting could go a long way in shaping the knockout-stage path, with the group winner likely rewarded with a more favourable Round of 16 tie, Softfootball reports
Egypt entered the tournament as one of the outright favourites to lift the AFCON trophy in mid-January, and they justified that billing despite a nervy start against Zimbabwe. The Pharaohs were forced to come from behind after conceding first, but goals from Omar Marmoush and a late winner from Mohamed Salah eventually sealed a 2-1 victory.
That result not only highlighted their attacking depth, but also ensured Egypt quickly put behind them the disappointment of their winless 2023 AFCON campaign.
Domination was not lacking for Rui Vitória’s side, who controlled most of the possession and registered the most shots in that opener, but defensive concentration remains an area of concern. Egypt are now without a clean sheet in eight matches, and having endured a winless Arab Cup earlier this month, they will be eager to tighten up at the back and send a clear statement to their title rivals. A more composed performance here would further reinforce their credentials as one of the tournament’s standout teams.
South Africa, meanwhile, are widely tipped to finish second in Group B, but they will see this fixture as an opportunity to challenge that narrative. Bafana Bafana also needed late drama in their opener, edging Angola 2-1 in an evenly balanced contest to mark a successful return to AFCON action. That win built on the momentum they have generated since finishing third at the previous edition, with Hugo Broos’ side now having won five of their last eight AFCON matches.
Despite sitting 26 places below Egypt in the FIFA rankings, South Africa arrive with confidence drawn from a 12-game unbeaten run across all competitions stretching back to July. That resilience could make them awkward opponents, particularly given their recent positive record against the Pharaohs. While Egypt may dominate the ball, South Africa’s organisation and belief could allow them to compete strongly for a win.
Team News
Egypt will again look to Omar Marmoush, who continues to shine on the international stage despite struggles at club level, having scored in three of his last four appearances for the national team. Mohamed Salah’s late intervention against Zimbabwe also underlined his importance as a match-winner in high-pressure moments.
Interestingly, ahead of the big game South Africa via its official X handle, shared an exclusive video of the team’s arrival to their training ground and players training and preparing for the game against Morocco. They posted:
South Africa’s Oswin Appollis remains a key threat, having scored in four internationals this year and winning all four matches in which he found the net. Both teams reported no fresh injury concerns following their opening group games.
Possible Lineups
Egypt possible starting lineup:
El Shenawy; Hany, Ibrahim, Abdelmaguid, Fatouh; Attia, Fathy; Salah, Marmoush, Trezeguet; Mohamed
South Africa possible starting lineup:
Williams; Mudau, Ngezana, Mbokazi, Modiba; Mokoena, Sithole; Nkota, Mbule, Appollis; Foster
SoftFootball Prediction
Given Egypt’s attacking firepower and tournament pedigree, they enter as slight favourites, but South Africa’s unbeaten run and strong head-to-head record suggest this will be far from straightforward. Expect a competitive encounter, with moments of quality likely to decide it.
Prediction: Egypt 2-1 South Africa
