Monday Dec 22, 2025. 23:53
Join AfricanFootball.com for LIVE updates from all 52 matches of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, as 24 teams battle for glory in Morocco from 21 December to 18 January.
Today’s matches:
16h00 – Mali 1-1 Zambia
19h00 – South Africa 2-1 Angola
22h00 – Egypt 2-1 Zimbabwe
Updates:
Full-time – Egypt 2 Zimbabwe 1. The Pharaohs leave it late, but they get the job done to claim victory in their opening Group B match to join Bafana Bafana as the early leaders.
90+1′ Goal! Egypt 2-1 Zimbabwe. Salah has done very little in the game but comes up with the good when it matyters most as he drills a shot inside the right post to snatch all three points for the Pharaohs.
85′ A rare chance for the Warriors sees Tawanda Chirewa clear the target with a rushed effort from range.
80′ Adel proves wasteful of this occasion as he fires high over the goal from the edge of the area.
77′ Arubi keeps Zimbabwe in the contest with another fine save to prevent Ibrahim Adel’s from inside the box giving Egypt the lead with 13 minutes left to play.
73′ Zizo is next to squander an opportunity for the Pharaohs as he steers a header too high from Mohamed Hamdy’s cross.
69′ Mostafa Mohamed has a chance to put Egypt ahead after making contact with Zizo’s pin-point cross, but he fails to keep his header down.
63′ Goal! Egypt 1-1 Zimbabwe. Marmoush finally hits back for the Pharaohs as produces a fine finish from inside the area, lashing a shot just under the crossbar to give Arubi no chance.
60′ Egypt have just 30 minutes to turn this game around. They just haven’t been accurate enough with the final ball in key areas.
54′ Marmoush gets an early sniff at goal in the second half after latching onto a pass inside the box, but Arubi pulls off a smart save to keep out his low shot.
46′ Egypt get the ball rolling in the second half.
Half-time: Egypt 0 Zimbabwe 1 – The Pharaohs created plenty of chances, but haven’t been clinical enough as Dube showed them how it’s done by giving the Warriors a slender lead at the break.
45+1′ Marmoush is presented with another opportunity to equalise, but he doesn’t make clean contact with the ball inside the box and his shot flies over the bar.
38′ Omar Marmoush does well to escape his marker and tries his luck from range, but his shot lacks the sufficient power to seriously trouble Washington Arubi, who gathers with ease.
30′ Egypt continue to enjoy the lion’s share of the possession and they’ll be hoping to strike back before half-time or risk seeing Zimbabwe gain more and more confidence.
20′ Goal! Egypt 0-1 Zimbabwe. The Warriors take a shock lead. Emmanuel Jalai picks up Prince Dube with an incisive pass and the striker beats El Shenawy with a composed finish to open the scoring.
18′ Zimbabwe get the first attempt on target as Jonah Fabisch rises above his marker to steer a header towards goal, but Mohamed El Shenawy is well placed to make the save.
12′ Emam Ashour comes a little closer two minutes later as he gets away from his marker after receiving the ball from Mohamed Salah and fires just wide of the right post.
10′ The first attempt at goal comes from Egypt after dominating the opening stages. Marwan Attia regains possession from his own failed pass and takes aim, but sees his shot sail high over the crossbar.
1′ We are underway at the Adrar Stadium.
Bafana Bafana got off to a positive start after they beat the Black Sable Antelopes 2-1 at the Marrakesh Stadium earlier this evening.
Zimbabwe were denied the chance to qualify for the previous AFCON after being banned by FIFA for governmental interference. The Warriors have yet to progress beyond the group stages in five attempts and they face a stiff challenge to do so in Morocco with South Africa and Angola also contesting Group B.
Egypt will be hoping to make a deep run in Morocco after they bowed out of the 2023 edition in the round of 16. This is likely Mohamed Salah’s last chance to win Africa’s biggest prize as the Pharaohs go in search of a record eighth title.
Egypt v Zimbabwe starting line-ups:
Egypt: M. El Shenawy, M. Hany, H. Abdelmaguid, Y. Ibrahim, M. Hamdy, M. Attia, H. Fathy, M. Salah, E. Ashour, Trezeguet, O. Marmoush.
Zimbabwe: W. Arubi, G. Murwira, M. Garananga, G. Takwara, T. Hadebe, M. Nakamba, E. Jalai, J. Fabisch, P. Dube, D. Msendami, W. Navaya.
90+6’ – Full time. South Africa 2-1 Angola. Bafana Bafana take the victory thanks to Lyle Foster’s superb winning goal! They set the pace at the top of Group B with three points – Egypt and Zimbabwe will have the chance to respond in their meeting in Agadir in just over an hour’s time.
90’ – There will be five minutes of added time, as South Africa look to hold onto their 2-1 lead over Angola.
85’ – Regulation time is ticking down, with Bafana Bafana hoping to see out a crucial victory and set the pace in Group B.
79’ – GOAL! South Africa 2-1 Angola. Lyle Foster curls home a beauty from the edge of the box after a swift passing move!
77’ – Relebohile Mofokeng has replaced Sipho Mbule in midfield for SA.
76’ – Angola have shuffled their pack in attack by sending on Felicio Milson and Mabululu for Gelson Dala and Chico Banza (Nzola).
71’ – Mbekezeli Mbokazi heads on target from a corner kick, but it’s a tame effort and easily saved by Hugo Marques.
64’ – South Africa with an appeal for a penalty after Khuliso Mudau is challenged in the box, but nothing doing from the referee or VAR.
58’ – Mbekezeli Mbokazi lets fly from long range and hits the crossbar! So close to a second goal from South Africa, who have been much, much better since the restart.
54’ – Goal Rescinded! South Africa 1-1 Angola. Lyle Foster was offside in the build-up and VAR rules out the goal from Tshepang Moremi.
51’ – GOAL! South Africa 2-1 Angola. Tshepang Moremi makes an immediate impact, running onto a pass from Teboho Mokoena and driving home a low, left-footed effort! Great finish!
46’ – Back underway in the second half in Marrakesh. SA have made one change, with Tshepang Moremi replacing Mohau Nkota.
45+6’ – Half time. South Africa 1-1 Angola. The Palancas Negras have been the more aggressive and potent team, and arguably deserve more for their efforts through the first half. Bafana Bafana will need to make a significant step up in the second stanza if they are to win this one.
45+3’ – Yellow card: Sekela Sithole is booked for a late lunge on Show in midfield.
45’ – There will be five minutes of injury time.
41’ – Yellow card: Aubrey Modiba cautioned for a challenge on Zito Luvumbo, and tempers are flaring in Marrakesh.
35’ – GOAL! South Africa 1-1 Angola. The Palancas Negras strike back, as Fredy’s free kick is flicked home by Show to level the game!
33’ – Yellow card: To Carneiro receives the first booking for a petulant hand to Mohau Nkota’s face.
32’ – Angola have been much the better team since going behind, and an equaliser would not flatter them.
29’ – Gelson Dala powers a header on target from a corner kick, but Ronwen Williams makes a sharp save to keep South Africa 1-0 up.
21’ – GOAL! South Africa 1-0 Angola. Oswin Appollis drives a low shot beyond the right hand of Hugo Marques and Bafana Bafana have the lead in Marrakesh!
15’ – Fredy volleys on target from the edge of the box, but Ronwen Williams makes a fine save – the best chance at either end so far.
11’ – Lyle Foster has Bafana Bafana’s first effort on target, as he heads toward goal, but Hugo Marques makes a good diving save.
9’ – South Africa’s Teboho Mokoena lets fly from long range, but the effort drifts high and wide of the target.
3’ – Angola’s Gelson Dala has the first effort on target, but his header is comfortably saved by Ronwen Williams.
1’ – Kick-off. South Africa 0-0 Angola. We are underway at the Marrakesh Stadium. Bafana Bafana wear yellow and green, while the Palancas Negras are in red and black.
18h45 – South Africa and Angola have clashed 20 times (including non ‘A’ level matches, such as in the African Games, COSAFA Cup and African Nations Championship), with Bafana boasting nine outright wins (plus one via penalties) to three for the Palancas Negras.
The teams last met in an international friendly in November 2022 at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit which ended 1-1, with Zini’s 20th minute opener for Angola cancelled out eight minutes later by a penalty from Zakhele Lepasa.
This will be the fifth clash between the teams at an AFCON tournament. All have been in the group stage, and South Africa have an unbeaten record in that sequence.
18h35 – Line-ups:
South Africa: R. Williams, K. Mudau, S. Ngezana. M. Mbokazi, A. Modiba, T. Mokoena, S. Sithole, S. Mbule, O. Appollis, M. Nkota, L. Foster
Angola: H. Marques, C. Mata, K. Gaspar, J. Buatu, Show, Fredy, A. Muanza (Maestro), Z. Luvumbo, T. Carneiro, C. Banza (Nzola), G. Dala
18h30 – Group B at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations gets underway in 30 minutes with the meeting of South Africa and Angola at the Marrakesh Stadium.
Full-time: Mali and Zambia share the spoils in a 1-1 stalemate in their opening Group B assignment at Stade Mohammed V following Daka’s leaping header in dying minutes of the match.
91’ – Goal! While Mali’s defence looked solid for much of the game, Patson Daka popped up to score a late equalizer by latching onto a curling cross toward the 18-yard-area.
86′Mali: Amadou Haidara replaces Kamory Doumbi
78′- Zambia: Kennedy Musonda replaces Fashion Sakal
76′- Mali: Mahamadou Doumbia replaces Dorgeles Nene
76′- Mali: Gaoussou Diarra replaces El Bilal Toure
70′- David Simukonda (Zambia) is cautioned.
75’ – Zambia are pushing for an equalizer while Mali surrenders the ball momentarily. Chipolopolo are now stringing passes together, none of which are providing any attacking threat.
67′- Zambia: David Simukonda replaces Miguel Chaiwa
67′ – Zambia: Joseph Sabobo replaces Lameck Banda
65′- Aliou Dieng (Mali) is cautioned.
60’ – GOAL! Mali’s pressure eventually pay off at the hour-mark with Lassine Sinayoko slotting home a loose ball inside the area following a dangerous cross on the left-hand flank of the pitch.
55’ – Ten minutes into the second-half between Mali and Zambia, no breakthrough as yet. While Mali dominated the first 45, Zambia appears to be growing into the tie.
46’ – We’re back with the second-half between Mali and Zambia!
45’ – Half-time between Mali and Zambia, The Eagles came closest to scoring during the first 45. However, Zambia held tight in preserving their clean sheet.
41’ – Penalty to Mali! However, El Bilal Touré saw his right-footed shot saved by goalkeeper Willard Mwanza.
38’ – The referee heads to the pitch side monitor for a VAR review following a crunching tackle by Mathews Banda on Nene Dorgeles inside the box.
35’ – Mali continues to see more of the ball with 10 minutes to the break while Zambia have little to show for their attacking advancements. Mamadou Sangare has been one of Mali’s brightest sparks in the first-half, particularly with his driving runs toward the box.
15’ – Still goalless between Mali and Zambia, while The Eagles are enjoying the majority of the ball. Zambia continues to sit back with the hope of catching their opponents on the break.
5’ – Mali vs Zambia: The Eagles create the first bit of excitement in the tie. Swift passing on the edge area but were unable to cap off the early attack.
3’ – Mali vs Zambia: Mali are settling early and are probing in the middle of the pitch as Zambia set-up a mid-block.
1’ – Mali vs Zambia: Kick-off. We’re underway at the popular Mohammed V Stadium!
“God willing, we will have a good start. The match against Zambia will not be easy. We won’t talk much during this tournament; we will show it on the pitch.”
Mali star Aliou Dieng uttered that The Eagles will do the talking on the pitch.
“We have prepared well for the competition. Our goal is to give everything tactically and mentally. I am very excited about this tournament, and an advantage for me is that I have more experience. We are well-prepared and aim to go far.”
Speaking ahead of the game, Zambia captain Fashion Sakala expressed that Chipolopolo are ‘well-prepared’ for the tournament.
The two nations will meet for the second time in AFCON history after they shook hands in the 1994 semi-finals, where Chipolopolo claimed an emphatic 4-0 victory over The Eagles.
This tie is cooking up to be a tasty affair in Group A, while hosts Morocco bagged a 2-0 win against Comoros on Sunday. Mali advanced to the semi-finals of the tournament on five occasions, meanwhile, Zambia are one-time winners of
Mali vs Zambia Starting Line-ups
Mali: Diarra, Fofana, Diaby, Dante, Dorgeles, Coulibaly, Dieng, Sangare, Sinayoko, Doumbia, Toure
Zambia: Mwanza, Musonda, Sakala Chanda, M.Banda, Chaiwa, Kangwa, Tembo, L.Banda, Sakala, Daka