South Africa and Angola kick off their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaigns with a Group B showdown, as both sides look to lay down an early marker in Morocco. Having finished third at the last AFCON in 2023, Bafana Bafana arrive with renewed belief and genuine ambition of going all the way this time around, Softfootball reports.
Their qualification campaign was highly impressive, as they went unbeaten across six matches, a tally bettered only by the tournament hosts. That attacking fluency, combined with their tournament-high five clean sheets at the last AFCON, suggests South Africa could be one of the most balanced teams in the competition.
Momentum has also been on their side in the build-up to the tournament. South Africa were unbeaten throughout qualifying and also recorded notable victories along the way, including a 5-0 win over Congo in the AFCON qualifiers, underlining their consistency against fellow continental opposition. If they can carry that blend of defensive solidity and attacking sharpness into this opener, they will fancy their chances of starting Group B on a strong footing.
Angola, meanwhile, matched South Africa stride for stride during qualification, also going unbeaten with four wins and two draws. Their route to Morocco was built on defensive discipline rather than attacking volume, conceding just two goals across six qualifiers a record bettered by only two teams.
That resilience gives them a solid foundation, but recent form raises some concerns, with just two wins from their last seven matches in all competitions, which is far from ideal preparation for a demanding AFCON opener.
That said, Angola have shown ambition ahead of the tournament. In preparation for AFCON, they hosted Argentina in a high-profile friendly, with Lionel Messi inspiring the South American champions to a 2-0 victory a match that, while ending in defeat, offered valuable experience against elite opposition. Angola will be keen to channel that exposure into a disciplined performance here, as they look to overcome a poor historical record in AFCON group-stage openers.
Team News
South Africa will look to winger Oswin Appollis, who was one of the standout performers in qualification, directly contributing to six goals (two goals and four assists), the second-highest tally among all players. His creativity and end product will be crucial if Bafana Bafana are to break down Angola’s organised defensive structure.
Ahead of the crucial group opener against Angola, South Africa via its official X handle, shared an exclusive video of the players arrival for their first training session in Marrakech. Watch video below:
Angola’s attacking hopes may rest on Gelson Dala, who was their most influential player at the 2023 AFCON, contributing to five goals in total. His experience at tournament level and ability to deliver in key moments could be vital as Angola attempt to defy history and secure a positive start.
Possible Lineups
South Africa possible starting lineup:
Williams; Mudau, Ndamane, Sibisi, Modiba; Mokoena, Sithole, Mbatha; Appollis; Nkota, Foster
Angola possible starting lineup:
Neblu; Modesto, Carmo, Buatu, Carneiro; Show, Fredy, Maestro; Luvumbo, Mabululu, Milson
SoftFootball Prediction
Both sides come into this encounter unbeaten in qualification, but South Africa’s stronger recent momentum, superior attacking output, and proven tournament pedigree give them a slight edge. Angola’s defensive organisation should keep things competitive, though breaking their poor record in AFCON openers may prove difficult.
Prediction: South Africa 1-0 Angola
