2025 AFCON Group B: Bafana Bafana and Pharaohs favourites?
by Thobelani Moyo | by Cydias Aujard
Group B: Overview
Group B of the 2025 AFCON is the most deceptive group in the tournament this season. It features Egypt, which has lifted a record seven titles and is a rising force in African football, and South Africa, set to battle it out for glory.
Both nations are expected to take up the two spots in the group that'll guarantee them qualification to the knockout stages and a chance to fight their way to the prestigious silverware.
However, the journey to achieving that won't be easy, as ambitious underdogs Angola and Zimbabwe, who are hungry to make a name for themselves on the continental stage, could thrive as disruptors of such plans.
Egypt: African giants seeking redemption
Morocco might be the best-ranked team in Africa (#11), but Egypt, ranked 34th, has been the most successful nation in the AFCON. They have lifted the trophy a record seven times, and only Cameroon comes closest with five in their cabinet.
The Pharaohs are record-holding giants in this competition, but for their last triumph, you will have to go back to 2010 when they beat Ghana 1-0 to clinch an unprecedented third consecutive silverware.
The previous edition saw the nation suffer an early exit, losing 8-7 on penalties against the Democratic Republic of Congo in the last 16. This year's participation is about redemption, and it'll not be very delightful if they miss out on being crowned African champions.
Mohamed Salah has been a focal point for his nation. The 33-year-old is expected to represent his country at this year's AFCON, and everyone, including his teammates, will be relying on him to deliver. That overreliance can turn to be a setback, as this could put a target on his back for opposing sides who'll be ready to cut his supply line, leaving a question of who will step up if that were to happen.
Angola: Dark horses with potential to cause an upset
Angola can be considered a dark horse in Group B, as they have the potential to stir and make things interesting. This is a nation that has established itself as a regular AFCON quarter-finalist in recent years.
The Black Sable Antelopes reached the quarter-finals in the previous season, marking the third time in six editions they've done so. Unfortunately, they couldn't progress any further after suffering a 1-0 defeat against Nigeria.
Patrice Beaumelle's charges had a strong record in the previous edition, going 3-1-1. Replicate that same performance in the current campaign, and they might have a chance of securing one of the knockout berths and reaching the semifinals for the first time, or even better, clinch their first-ever major continental trophy.
South Africa: Bafana Bafana are experiencing a sustained ascent
South Africa has nothing more to prove in its ability to perform at the highest level. What more can you possibly want from a nation that reached the semi-finals of the AFCON in the previous edition and booked their spot in the upcoming 2026 World Cup for the first time since 2010?
The master technician behind Bafana Bafana's success has been Hugo Broos. Since taking charge of the senior national team, the 73-year-old has overseen 49 games as head coach, winning 26, drawing 16, and losing 7. With a 53.06% win percentage, it's hard to ignore that South Africa have become a resilient and competitive side.
As mentioned earlier, Hugo Broos' charges reached the semi-finals in the previous edition. The goal is simple this time around: go way further than that and a second AFCON trophy to their cabinet, which will also mark their first since 1996. Also, prove themselves as genuine challengers.
Considering they are no longer underdogs but a nation trying to cement their position as an African powerhouse, they'll need to manage the heightened expectations, something that has been somewhat of a challenge for them.
Zimbabwe: The Warriors eye a surprise run in Group B
Zimbabwe missed out on the previous edition and are to send a clear message of intent in their return. However, judging by the quality in Group B, they are the lower-ranked nation on paper.
Even the lowest-ranked nations can cause some of the shocking upsets, and the Warriors' role in this competition is to be the disruptors; and if they dare to dream big, they will go all the way to the knockout stages for the first time.
Honesty speaking, Zimbabwe lacks squad depth, and a bottom-placed finish is the best they can do again. That rings true for a nation that has never progressed beyond the group stages in six editions.
Final verdict
By analyzing the situation in Group B, one can see that Egypt are expected to top the group while South Africa is expected to finish as runners-up.
To answer your question about whether Egypt and South Africa are favourites, the answer is yes. However, if they manage to pass through Angola and Zimbabwe should pose no threat to them, claiming the top two knockout qualification spots.
