Egypt vs South Africa: Can Salah-Marmoush Duo End Bafana Bafana’s Unbeaten Run?

by Geoffrey Ejiga | by Véronique MASUAKU

image Egypt vs South Africa: Can Salah-Marmoush Duo End Bafana Bafana’s Unbeaten Run?
Egypt boast an even sharper frontline than the one that carried them to the 2022 AFCON final. Salah is coming off another record-breaking season, while Omar Marmoush, who failed to register a goal or assist in that 2022 run, finished fifth among players with the most G/A in league football last season. Both scored in the opener against Zimbabwe, but now face their first real test of the 2025 AFCON against a South Africa senior team unbeaten in 21 games.

Pharaohs Deadly Duo Enough to Secure Top Spot in Round 2?

Offensively, Egypt are undoubtedly one of the best teams in the 2025 AFCON. Mohammed Salah just equalled the record for the most G/A in an EPL season (47). Meanwhile, Omar Marmoush also had an incredible season with 31 G/A in 33 games across the Bundesliga and Premier League alone.

Marmoush, especially, has come a long way since the 2022 final run, where the then 23-year-old recorded zero goal contributions despite featuring and starting in all seven games. Omar already opened his campaign with a crucial 64th-minute equaliser against Zimbabwe, and has now scored in three of his last four games for The Pharaohs.

Salah sealed the win for Egypt in stoppage time with a brief moment of magic. With those two at the helm of the attack, Egypt, the seven-time AFCON winners (the most), will feel they can make another deep run, or even lift the title. However, a favourable first-place finish is in order, and South Africa stands in the way.

Bafana Bafana’s senior team, which is undefeated in 21 games, is among the best defensive teams in African football. And that backline will pose problems that Egypt’s frontline will struggle to answer.

Bafana Bafana Eyes Another Underdog Win Over Egypt

Excluding the "awarded" 3-0 defeat to Lesotho, along with the CHAN and COSAFA Cup, which featured the junior team, South Africa’s senior men are still undefeated in 21 games. Interestingly, the very last defeat was to Nigeria in the semifinals of the 2024 AFCON, losing only on penalties (4-2).

And if we’re counting only full-time and extra-time defeats, South Africa is still unbeaten in 26 games. Much of that success can be attributed to Bafana Bafana’s defensive solidity, which saw them concede only 16 goals in those 26 outings (0.6 per game). With Egypt relying too heavily on their frontline, South Africa will definitely cause major problems for The Pharaohs.

In fact, South Africa beat Egypt (3-1) in that 26-game span in a friendly game. However, both teams were without their first-team lineups. Their last competitive meeting was in the round of 16 of the 2019 AFCON, in a game where Egypt were even heavier favourites. Salah and Trezeguet were in the attack for Egypt in that game. But Ronwen Williams, the Best Goalkeeper award winner of the last AFCON, and the South Africa defence stopped 8 shots from the duo, while keeping a clean sheet in their 1-0 win.

Salah and Marmoush present an even deadlier combo for Egypt in this tournament. Yet, South Africa is well-positioned to contain them and possibly win the game as they boast a more balanced squad.