2025 AFCON Group B Match Preview: Zimbabwe vs South Africa

The stakes will be high on Monday when Zimbabwe and South Africa go head to head at the Stade de Marrakech in the final Group B game of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

While victory will see the Warriors reach the knockout stages for the first time in AFCON history, South Africa needs at least a draw to go through, having picked up three points from the first two games.

Having failed to secure qualification back in 2023, it has been a challenging return to the Africa Cup of Nations for Zimbabwe, who find themselves on the cusp of yet another early exit from the continental showpiece.

Coming off the back of a forgettable campaign in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, where they failed to win any of their 10 matches to finish rock-bottom in Group C, Zimbabwe faced the daunting challenge of record African champions Egypt in the Group B curtain-raiser on December 22.

In a thrilling clash at the Stade de Marrakech, Prince Dube netted against the run of play to put the Warriors in front heading into half time, but Omar Marmoush restored parity in the 64th minute before Mohamed Salah struck in the first minute of stoppage time to turn the game on its head.

Facing potential elimination in their second group outing, Zimbabwe turned in a resilient team display against Angola on Boxing Day, when Knowledge Musona netted right on the stroke of half time to cancel out Gelson Dala’s 24th-minute opener and force a 1-1 stalemate.

Mario Marinica’s men, who are currently 129th in the latest FIFA World Rankings, sit third in Group B with one point from a possible six, level with rock-bottom Angola and two points behind South Africa in second place.

Meanwhile, South Africa kicked off their quest for a second AFCON title on the front foot, as they secured a 2-1 victory over Angola thanks to goals from Oswin Appollis and Burnley man Lyle Foster on December 22.

However, the Bafana Bafana failed to guarantee their spot in the knockout stages on Boxing Day, as they fell to a controversial 1-0 defeat against 10-man Egypt at the Stade Adrar.

In a game where Mohamed Hany received his marching orders, Liverpool forward Salah converted from the spot shortly before half time to put the Pharaohs in front before South Africa were denied a late penalty after review from the VAR.

Hugo Broos’s men have come into the 2025 AFCON off the back of booking their spot in the FIFA World Cup for the first time since hosting the tournament in 2010, having picked up 18 points from 10 games to clinch top spot in Group C.

Needing just a point to reach a second straight AFCON knockout stage, South Africa will be backing themselves to get the job done on Monday against an opposing side who have failed to win any of their last five meetings, losing three and claiming two draws since a 2-1 friendly defeat in September 2013.

Zimbabwe possible starting lineup:

Arubi; Lunga, Galloway, Takwara, Jalai; Nakamba, Fabisch; Antonio, Musona, Dube; Bonne

South Africa possible starting lineup:

Mudau, Ngezana, Mbokazi, Modiba; Sithole, Mokoena; Nkotaba, Mbule, Appollis; Forster