Bafana Drawn In Favorable AFCON Group With COSAFA Rivals

Bafana Bafana has been drawn into a relatively favorable group for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, facing two COSAFA nations: Angola, Zimbabwe, and five-time champions Egypt in Group B.

Bafana, who claimed the bronze medal in the 2024 edition, their match against Egypt, will be a repeat of the 1998 final in Burkina Faso, with Bafana losing 2-0.  

Bafana was looking at defending the tournament, having been winners of this competition two years earlier in 1996 when they were the host nations by beating Tunisia with the same scoreline.  

A man who scored one of the goals in the 1998 AFCON edition final for Egypt against Bafana Bafana is currently their coach Hossam Hassan, who was appointed by Egypt in February 2024. 

Hossan also won the 2006 AFCON when Egypt was the host and Bafana Bafana came back with the tails between their legs as they failed to score a goal as they lost all three group stage matches.   

As much as Bafana lost to Egypt 27 years ago in the final, however, they beat Egypt 1-0 in the round of 16 in the 2019 edition when Egypt were the hosts through a goal by Thembinkosi Lorch.  

In terms of the head-to-head stats, these two nations have met seven times. Bafana is edging Egypt, having won four and lost just two matches.  

However, Egypt has the best player that is in form currently – Mohamed Salah of Liverpool, and new Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush. He was signed recently at Eintracht Frankfurt. 

The 2025 AFCON finals will take place from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026.