Afcon 2025 LIVE: Zimbabwe v South Africa and Angola v Egypt latest score and updates

The Africa Cup of Nations kicked off in Morocco on Sunday 21 December, with the final at the Prince Moulay Abdallah Stadium in Rabat to be played on Sunday 18 January – far earlier than when held at this time of the calendar than in previous years.

The 35th edition of the biennial tournament was initially set to be played in July and August 2025, in order to reduce disruption with the European football season.

But the timing of the Africa Cup of Nations is, once again, a talking point – which is unfair to the tournament itself as it becomes squeezed by club football’s endless expansion.

The Africa Cup of Nations was moved to begin in December in order to make room for the expanded Club World Cup, which featured 32 teams for the first time and took place in the United States between June and July earlier this year.

On the other side, the conclusion of the new Champions League league phase in January, which features an additional two matches, forced an earlier start to Afcon and for the tournament to be played over Christmas and the New Year period for the first time.

Elsewhere at Afcon today, Group A will reach its climax in the later kick-offs.

Fourth-place Comoros face second-place Mali, with the former knowing they’ll need a win to have any chance of qualifying for the round of 16.

Meanwhile, Zambia clash with tournament hosts and group leaders Morocco, who are one of the favourites to win the entire competition.

Both games kick off at 7pm GMT.

Mohamed Salah finds himself in an increasingly familiar situation as he starts for the Pharaohs on the bench today – but the circumstances are of course quite different to the drama involving the winger at Liverpool.

Egypt are through to the round of 16 and Salah, who has scored the winner in both group games for his country, has been given a rest. At least we think that’s what has happened.

Maybe we’ll see him in the mixed zone later…

While progression is the main priority for three of the four teams competing today, Afcon contenders Egypt and South Africa will surely have an eye towards the latter stages of the competition as they looked to lift the elusive golden trophy.

Sunday 4 January and Monday 5 January will be when the Pharaohs and potentially two other Group B teams play their round of 16 ties, beginning the knockout phase of their Afcon campaign.

That’ll culminate on Sunday 18 January, when Rabat hosts the Afcon final at Morocco’s newly-renovated Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah.

As expected, more or less full strength from both sides. South Africa still have work to do to qualify, while Zimbabwe will need to be at their best to cause a shock to next year’s World Cup participants.

Zimbabwe XI: Arubi; Galloway, Takwara, Garananga; Fabisch, Antonio, Nakamba, Msendami, Lunga; Dube, Maswanhise.

South Africa XI: Williams; Mudau, Ngezana, Mbokazi, Modiba; Mokoena, Sithole; Appollis, Mbule, Moremi; Foster.

With Egypt already through, Pharaohs boss Hosssam Hassan has made the bold decision to rotate heavily, resting the likes of Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush.

Angola XI: Marques; Modesto, Gaspar, Carmo, Fortuna; Maestro, Mukendi, Fredy; Luvumbo, Mabululu, Banza.

Egypt XI: Shobeir; Eid, Abdelmaguid, Sobhi, Aboul-Fetouh; Saber, Ismail, Lasheen; Mohsen, Adel, Mohamed.

We’ll have confirmed team news from both of today’s games anytime from 3pm, so stay tuned!

Afcon’s most successful side Egypt are already into the knockouts but will be looking for an assured performance against Angola to ensure top spot.

The Pharaohs boast some of the best attacking players on the continent, with Liverpool superstar and captain Mohamed Salah their poster boy. He has already proved the difference in both games so far, coming up with a late winner against Zimbabwe before scoring the decisive penalty against South Africa. He is supported by Omar Marmoush of Manchester City in a blockbuster attack, while former Aston Villa winger Trezeguet can also do damage.

Lyon defender Clinton Mata is Angola’s prized commodity and will be tasked with thwarting Egypt’s powerful front line this afternoon. Up top, Gelson Dala is in fine scoring form after his goal against Zimbabwe, now joint-third with Manucho in the country’s all-time scoring ranks.

South Africa are in their best period for over a decade and are staring down the barrel of their first World Cup in 15 years next summer, having not competed at the tournament’s finals since hosting in 2010.

Burnley striker Lyle Foster has been Bafana Bafana’s dangerman in recent times and despite a quiet outing against Egypt, he will be the man to watch against Zimbabwe. Vice-captain Teboho Mokoena, who starred for Mamelodi Sundowns at the Club World Cup last summer, will meanwhile look to control midfield.

Zimbabwe will lean on the leadership of their captain Marvelous Nakamba, who has Premier League experience under his belt at Aston Villa and Luton Town. Knowledge Musona will also have a spring in his step after moving joint-second with Adam Ndlovu in the nation’s all-time scoring chart with his equaliser against Angola. One of their more notable names, Wolves man Marshall Munetsi, was omitted from the Warriors’ Afcon squad over an injury – something that has been disputed by the player.

Egypt took control of Group B when the Pharaohs met South Africa last time out, with Mohamed Salah’s first-half penalty propelling 10-man Egypt to a 1-0 win over South Africa.

The result saw them become the first team into the knockout stages of the competition, leaving Bafana Bafana in a precarious position going into the third group game.

Here’s how it went down: