Egypt and South Africa both opened their Group B campaigns at the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 with 2–1 victories, defeating Zimbabwe and Angola respectively.
The two sides meet at the Grande Stade d’Agadir tomorrow, with kick-off scheduled for 5 pm (CLT). This will be their fourth meeting at AFCON finals, having previously clashed in 1996, 1998 and 2019.
Of their previous AFCON meetings Egypt have two wins and South Africa one victory.
Their first AFCON clash in their final group game in 1996 saw Ahmed El Kaas score the game’s only goal, as Egypt defeated hosts South Africa 1-0 in Johannesburg. Both teams would progress from the group, South Africa would go onto become African champions.
In 1998 they met in the final with Egypt winning their fourth AFCON title with a 2-0 win in Ouagadougou, Ahmed Hassan and Tarek Mostafa scoring in the 5th and 13th minutes.
Their last AFCON meeting in 2019 saw South Africa eliminate hosts Egypt in Cairo, with a 1-0 win in the Round of 16. Thembinkosi Lorch scoring the game winner for Bafana Bafana in the 85th minute.
All three of Egypt’s goals against South Africa at AFCON have come in the first 12 minutes of matches.
Current Egypt squad members Mohamed Salah, Trezeguet and Mohamed El Shenawy featured when the Pharos lost to South Africa at the 2019 AFCON, Ronwen Williams was in goal for South Africa.
In their 2019 AFCON meeting Ronwen Williams faced three shots making three saves against Egypt, while Trzeguet had two of Egypt’s three shots on target in the match.
Salah failed to have a shot on target in Egypt’s loss to South Africa at the 2019 AFCON.
Mohamed El Shenawy faced six shots against Bafana Bafana at the 2019 AFCON making five saves, conceding one goal.
Egypt had 62% of the possession in their loss to South Africa at the 2019 AFCON, they also completed more passes 401 to South Africa’s 215.
Current Bafana Bafana assistant coach was involved in two games against Egypt at AFCON losing a group stage game in 1996 and the 1998 final.
Egypt coach Hossam Hassan featured in the 1998 final when they defeated South Africa 2-0 in Burkina Faso.
South Africa coach Hugo Broos, lead Cameroon to the AFCON title in 2017 defeating Egypt in the final 2-1 in Libreville. Salah and Trezeguet both started the game for Egypt.
Overall the nations have met 14 times with South Africa winning eight games, Egypt four with two games ending in a draw.
They also clashed in 2012 AFCON Qualifying with South Africa winning 1-0 at home and the other game ended 0-0, neither team reached the 2012 AFCON with Niger qualifying instead.
South Africa are undefeated in their last six games against Egypt, winning four of these and drawing two.
Egypt’s last win over South Africa was a 1-0 win in a friendly game on the 15th November 2006 in Griffin Park in London. Emad Moteab scored the games only goal in the 3rd minute.
