Table of Contents
-
- Record winners Egypt face South Africa in Group B of the CAF 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
- The match at Adrar Stadium in Agadir, Morocco, kicked off at 4pm (15:00 GMT).
- Egypt beat Zimbabwe 2-1 in their opening match of the tournament, but needed a late winner from Liverpool’s unsettled forward Mohamed Salah.
- South Africa also recorded a 2-1 win in their first match, as they overcame their near neighbours, Angola.
- The match is the first of the tournament’s early mouth-watering ties, and is quickly followed by Nigeria against Tunisia on Saturday.
Keep up to date: Follow Al Jazeera Sport and Al Jazeera Sport on X for the latest news, features and live events from around the globe.
Egypt under the cosh
They are exploiting their man advantage to the fullest already in these opening minutes of the second half.
The Pharoahs do not look very comfortable in defence in the handful of attacks the Bafana Bafana have put forward.
50 mins: Egypt 1-0 South Africa
South Africa win corner
It is underhit by Appolis from the right side, with Egypt doing well to negotiate the threat.
47 mins: Egypt 1-0 South Africa
Second half under way
We are back at Adrar Stadium for the second half.
This time it is Egypt who get us under way. Predictably, they bring in Emam Ashour for Marmoush to accomodate for the Hany dismissal earlier.
South Africa make a change as well at the half, with Mbatha coming off for Sipho Mbule.
46 mins: Egypt 1-0 South Africa.
More on Angola’s draw with Zimbabwe
Veteran Knowledge Musona scored as Zimbabwe came from behind to draw 1-1 with Angola in Marrakesh to kick off the second round of AFCON matches.
Gelson Dala put Angola ahead midway through the first half, and recalled Musona levelled deep in the first half’s added time.
A draw in Group B suited neither team, leaving both two points adrift of joint leaders Egypt and South Africa, having played one match more.
Only the top two finishers in each section automatically qualify for the knockout phase. The best four third-placed teams from the six mini-leagues also advance.
-
Half-time reading: Sabalenka faces Kyrgios in ‘Battle of the Sexes’
Women’s world number one Aryna Sabalenka will take on Australian maverick Nick Kyrgios in a “Battle of the Sexes” exhibition tennis match in Dubai on Sunday.
Sabalenka, 27, will face the 30-year-old former Wimbledon finalist in a modern rendition of tennis icon Billie Jean King’s 1973 winning showdown against fellow American Bobby Riggs, which turned out to be a watershed moment for both tennis and the women’s movement.
Click here for our all you need to know before their much-anticipated matchup.
Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios [Getty Images] Next up on Al Jazeera Sport: Nigeria face Tunisia
Nigeria were left to rue their inability to convert chances in their opening match, and the former champions can ill afford a repeat when they face a resolute Tunisia in Saturday’s pivotal clash in Fez.
Tunisia, by contrast, arrive with momentum and pedigree, having already secured qualification for next year’s FIFA World Cup and underlining their credentials on Tuesday by easing past Uganda to go top of Group C.
While Nigeria did well to overcome Tanzania 2-1 and claim the group’s second spot, they were wasteful in front of goal on several occasions, as star striker Victor Osimhen failed to affect the game in any meaningful way.
If the three-time AFCON winners are to harbour hopes of beating Tunisia, they will need their Galatasaray forward to step up and rediscover the form that has made him one of the game’s most feared attackers.
Click here for everything you need to know about Nigeria vs Tunisia.
Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen in action during the Africa Cup of Nations Group C match against Tanzania [Themba Hadebe/AP] South Africa handed a vital lifeline after Egypt takes lead
Salah’s penalty on the cusp of half-time looked to put Egypt on course for another victory.
But Hany’s egregious takedown of Mokoena has burst the game wide open for the Bafana Bafana as the Pharaohs are now down to just 10 men for the rest of this encounter.
Egypt were well ahead in all the relevant statistics, but can they maintain it once we return from the interval?
Half-time: Egypt 1-0 South Africa
Half-time: Egypt 1-0 South Africa
As soon as we enter the fifth minute of stoppage time, the referee calls time on what has been an eventful first half in Adagir.
Half-time: Egypt 1-0 South Africa
Red card!
After committing a rash challenge on Mokoena, Hany stamps on the player from behind.
He was already on a yellow, and the referee decides to give him another!
Replays confirm the brazenness of the incident, and all of a sudden, South Africa have an opportunity here with the man advantage.
45+2 mins: Egypt 1-0 South Africa
GOAL! Salah scores. Egypt 1-0 South Africa
Salah finishes neatly down the middle to put the Pharaohs ahead on the cusp of half-time.
Egypt deserve to take the lead and will now look to hold as we enter four minutes of added time.
45 mins: Egypt 1-0 South Africa
Egypt’s forward Mohamed Salah shoots from the penalty spot to score the team’s first goal [Franck Fife/AFP] Salah steps up to take penalty
Who else was it really going to be?
45 mins: Egypt 0-0 South Africa
Penalty!
The Egyptian fans go ballistic as Salah secures a penalty for his side!
Mudau is brandished with a yellow soon after, and the South Africans let their feelings be known about the decision.
43 mins: Egypt 0-0 South Africa
VAR check for penalty
We have a pivotal moment here in the context of this match!
Salah, after competing for a ball in the box, is caught in the face by Mudau.
There are immediate protests from the Egyptian players, and shortly after, the referee heads to the video screen.
41 mins: Egypt 0-0 South Africa
South Africa holding strong
They have largely been in a low block for large parts of the match.
Egypt have tried to barrel their way through, but so far, the Bafana Bafana defence have been immaculate.
39 mins: Egypt 0-0 South Africa
Egypt secure corner
They are mounting ever more pressure on the South Africans. This time they earn a corner from the left side, which is driven into the box.
But it is headed away competently by Foster, with Egypt winning a throw in from the left side.
36 mins: Egypt 0-0 South Africa
Egypt’s forward Mahmoud Trezeguet challenges South Africa’s defender Khuliso Mudau during the Africa Cup of Nations Group B match [Franck Fife/AFP] earn free kick
It is from deep on the left flank. The ball is played back and then sent over to the right flank.
Mbatha tries to cross it into the box, but El Shenawy rushes out to intercept the attempt midair.
32 mins: Egypt 0-0 South Africa
Foster tries his luck
South Africa deliver a ball over the top for #9 to attack.
He tries to get past his marker before just finding a smidgen of space to let go a low shot towards the far post from the left side.
But he doesn’t quite power the ball as he would have liked, and El Shanawy tracks it all the way.
30 mins: Egypt 0-0 South Africa
South Africa trying to build momentum
It has largely been one-way traffic so far, but South Africa are starting to string a few more passes together.
They have yet to really test El Shanawy in goal.
28 mins: Egypt 0-0 South Africa
Egypt’s defender Ramy Rabia jumps for the ball during the Africa Cup of Nations Group B match Franck Fife/AFP] Egypt earn corner
It is delivered from the left side into the box.
Hamdy is by the near post and attempts a flick-on header towards goal, but it is off the mark as South Africa secure a goal kick.
25 mins: Egypt 0-0 South Africa
Marmoush draws dangerous free kick opportunity
The Man City player is hacked down from behind, with Mokoena cautioned by the referee soon after. The attempt is from outside the box, just left of centre.
Marmoush and Salah hover over the ball. The former decides to go for the near post but just misses it as the ball curls away.
22 mins: Egypt 0-0 South Africa
Egypt win free kick
It is from deep on the left flank.
The ball is whipped into the box, but despite having three players in the vicinity, Egypt are unable to manufacture anything.
19 mins: Egypt 0-0 South Africa
Egypt in the ascendancy
They are playing to a specific plan.
The Bafana Bafana look disorganised whenever they are threatened on the flanks, and Salah looks to be a key player on the right side.
15 mins: Egypt 0-0 South Africa
Egypt’s forward Mahmoud Trezeguet and South Africa’s defender Khuliso Mudau compete during the Africa Cup of Nations Group B match [Franck Fife/AFP] Salah just out of reach
Egypt quickly get back on the counter with the ball making its way to Hamdy on the right flank.
Salah makes a run down the middle, and Hamdy tries to get away a low cross to the Liverpool player.
But Salah’s marker is able to just get in front to put him off the chance, and the ball eventually is sent downfield.
12 mins: Egypt 0-0 South Africa
Mudau to the rescue
Egypt get on a break with Salah spearheading the attack.
He tries to slip a pass to Trezeguet on his left as he enters the box, but Mudau goes across to steer the ball away for a throw on the far side.
10 mins: Egypt 0-0 South Africa
End-to-end
The teams have found their fluency in attack now as we near the opening 10 minutes of play.
The South African defence will certainly have their hands full with Marmoush and Salah.
9 mins: Egypt 0-0 South Africa
South Africa’s defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi, left, challenges Egypt’s forward Mohamed Salah during the Africa Cup of Nations Group B match [Franck Fife/AFP] Marmoush held
The Manchester City forward tries to blaze a path through the middle, just left of centre.
He does remarkably well to dribble past his markers before Mudau is able to hold him off the ball as it trickles out for a goal kick.
6 mins: Egypt 0-0 South Africa
El Shenawy in action early
Mbatha wiggles in from the right side with Hamdy tracking him.
The South African winger gets a bit of space inside the box to unleash a low shot at the Egyptian keeper, but he is up to the task.
4 mins: Egypt 0-0 South Africa
Steady start
Both sides have had some early possession as the ball pings from one end to the other.
There is plenty of support for both sides, so we hope the football will be equally as enthralling.
3 mins: Egypt 0-0 South Africa
Egypt’s forward Mohamed Salah, left, and South Africa’s defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi compete for the ball during the Africa Cup of Nations Group B match [Franck Fife/AFP]
