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AFCON 2025 teams as Salah starts
Egypt and South Africa are aiming to stay perfect at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) when the sides meet in Agadir on Friday.
The seven-time champions were in danger of suffering the greatest shock at the finals so far when they fell behind against Zimbabwe on Monday, Manchester City striker Omar Marmoush equalising after the break and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah scoring an added-time winner.
South Africa had been pegged back by Angola as part of a forgettable first-half display in their opening Group B match earlier that evening, but Burnley’s Lyle Taylor curled in the deciding goal 11 minutes from time in their 2-1 win.
101GreatGoals.com has the team news and starting line-ups as Egypt and South Africa continue their AFCON 2025 campaigns.
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Egypt line-up vs South Africa
Egypt replaced Emam Ashour, who is on the bench this time, with Nantes striker Mostafa Mohamed in the 33rd minute against Zimbabwe.
Hassan called Al-Ahly’s Ashour “a great player” but pointed out that the midfielder only returned in mid-November after two months out with Hepatitis A.
“He is not fully fit yet after a long absence,” added Hassan. “I decided to take him off to protect him from the pressure.”
Salah made his first start since November 22 in the opener, having been on Liverpool’s bench for four consecutive matches, including two as an unused substitute.
Egypt starting XI: Mohamed El Shenawy, Mohamed Hany, Yasser Ibrahim, Rami Rabia, Mohamed Hamdy, Marwan Attia, Zizo, Hamdi Fathy, Mohamed Salah, Omar Marmoush, Trezeguet
Egypt substitutes: Ahmed El Shenawy, Khaled Sobhy, Hossam Abdelmaguid, Emam Ashour, Salah Mohsen, Mostafa Mohamed, Ahmed Abou El Fotouh, Mohamed Shehata, Mohanad Lasheen, Mostafa Fathi, Ibrahim Adel, Osama Faisal, Ahmed Eid, Mostafa Shobeir, Mahmoud Saber
South Africa starting line-up vs Egypt
Momeri starts for South Africa, with Al-Ettifaq’s Mohau Nkota, who made way for him on Monday, on the bench.
Long-serving midfielder Themba Zwane helped South Africa finish third in 2023 and was named in their provisional squad but missed out through a knee injury.
South Africa starting XI: Ronwen Williams, Khuliso Mudau, Siyabonga Ngezana, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Aubrey Modiba, Thalente Mbatha, Teboho Mokoena, Sphephelo Sithole, Oswin Appollis, Lyle Foster, Tshepang Moremi
South Africa substitutes: Tylon Smith, Khulumani Ndamane, Relebohile Mofokeng, Mohau Nkota, Elias Mokwana, Bathusi Aubaas, Sipho Chaine, Sipho Mbule, Samukelo Kabini, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Ricardo Goss, Evidence Makgopa, Shandre Campbell, Thabang Matuludi
How to watch Egypt vs South Africa: TV channel, live online stream
Kick-off on Friday is at 15:00 GMT (10:00 ET / 07:00 PT). In the UK, live coverage of this AFCON 2025 match is on Channel 4 and All 4. In the USA, beIN Sports is the tournament broadcaster.
Online live streaming is available on a vast range of devices through Channel 4’s website and app and the beIN Sports app.
Egypt vs South Africa stats
- Egypt are now 11 AFCON games unbeaten in open play (W4 D7), including three wins and three draws during the group stage
- Their last such defeat was against Nigeria in their opening game in 2021, although they had drawn their previous six matches at the finals before beating Zimbabwe
- The Pharaohs have gone five AFCON games without a clean sheet, last keeping one in the 2021 final against Senegal, which they lost on penalties
- Against Zimbabwe, Egypt came from behind to win a game for the first time since beating Morocco in the 2021 round of 16
- Victory would give them successive wins to start the AFCON for an 11th time, last taking maximum points from their first two games in 2019
- Since 1963, when a group stage was introduced, Egypt’s record in their second group game is W14 D5 L4
- None of their second group game at the last seven AFCON finals have resulted in defeat, last losing in 2004 against Algeria
- A loss to Nigeria in their opening game in 2021 is their only defeat in their last 23 group games (W15 D7)
- Salah scored his eighth AFCON goal in his 20th such game and has scored at five editions (2017, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2025); coach Hossam Hassan scored in seven
- Mostafa Mohamed has directly contributed to goals in his last five AFCON games, scoring four and assisting once
- South Africa won their opener for the first time since 2004, with their victory representing the third time since that year that they have won a group-stage game against a country other than Namibia.
- Their last four group-stage wins have come against Angola in 2013 and 2025 and Namibia in 2019 and 2023
- Bafana are now unbeaten in seven games in open play since losing to Mali in 2023 (W3 D4)
- They have won the last two games against North African teams, beating Egypt and Morocco in 2019 and 2023 after previously going winless in four such matches (D1 L3)
- Victory would be the second time South Africa have won three in a row against North African opponents, having previously beaten Algeria and Tunisia in the 1996 quarter-finals and final and Morocco in the last eight in 1998 quarter-final
- One of their eight AFCON group games against North African teams – a 3–1 win against Morocco in 2002 – has resulted in victory (D2 L5)
- Against Zimbabwe, Foster became the first South Africa player to produce a goal and assist in an AFCON game since May Mahlangu against Morocco in 2013
- Including qualifiers, Oswin Appollis has seven AFCON goal involvements (3 goals, 4 assists)
- At his fourth finals, Ronwen Williams featured in his 12th AFCON game to match Andre Arendse for the most appearances at the tournament by a South Africa goalkeeper
- Against Zimbabwe, Foster became the first South Africa player to produce a goal and assist in an AFCON game since May Mahlangu against Morocco in 2013
Egypt AFCON 2025 squad
Goalkeepers: Mohamed El Shenawy (Al Ahly), Ahmed El Shenawy (Pyramids), Mostafa Shobeir (Al Ahly), Mohamed Sobhy (Zamalek).
Defenders: Mohamed Hany (Al Ahly), Ahmed Eid (Al Masry), Ramy Rabia (Al Ain), Khaled Sobhi (Al Masry), Yasser Ibrahim (Al Ahly), Mohamed Ismail (Zamalek), Hossam Abdelmaguid (Zamalek), Mohamed Hamdy (Pyramids), Ahmed Fatouh (Zamalek).
Midfielders: Marwan Attia (Al Ahly), Hamdi Fathy (Al Wakrah), Mohanad Lasheen (Pyramids), Mahmoud Saber (Zed), Mohamed Shehata (Zamalek), Emam Ashour (Al Ahly), Zizo (Al Ahly), Trezeguet (Al Ahly), Ibrahim Adel (Al Jazira), Mostafa Fathi (Pyramids).
Forwards: Omar Marmoush (Manchester City), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Mostafa Mohamed (Nantes), Salah Mohsen (Al Masry), Osama Faisal (Al Ahly Bank).
South Africa AFCON 2025 squad
Goalkeepers: Sipho Chaine (Orlando Pirates), Ricardo Goss (Siwelele), Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Defenders: Samukele Kabini (Molde), Thabang Matuludi (Polokwane City), Mbekezeli Mbokazi (Orlando Pirates), Aubrey Modiba (Mamelodi Sundowns), Khuliso Mudau (Mamelodi Sundowns), Khulumani Ndamane (TS Galaxy), Siyabonga Ngezana (Steaua Bucharest), Nkosinathi Sibisi (Orlando Pirates), Tylon Smith (Queens Park Rangers)
Midfielders: Bathusi Aubaas (Mamelodi Sundowns), Thalenthe Mbatha (Orlando Pirates), Teboho Mokoena (Mamelodi Sundowns), Sphephelo Sithole (Tondela), Sipho Mbule (Orlando Pirates)
Forwards: Oswin Appollis (Orlando Pirates), Shandre Campbell (Club Brugge), Lyle Foster (Burnley), Evidence Makgopa (Orlando Pirates), Relebohile Mofokeng (Orlando Pirates), Elias Mokwana (Al Hazem), Tshepang Moremi (Orlando Pirates), Mohau Nkota (Al Ettifaq)
AFCON 2025 fixtures, full Africa Cup of Nations schedule
Sunday, December 21 2025
- Group A: Morocco 2-0 Comoros (Rabat)
Monday, December 22 2025
- Group A: Mali 1-1 Zambia (Casablanca)
- Group B: South Africa 2-1 Angola (Marrakech)
- Group B: Egypt 2-1 Zimbabwe (Agadir)
Tuesday, December 23 2025
- Group D: Senegal 3-0 Botswana (Tangie)
- Group D: DR Congo 1-0 Benin (Rabat)
- Group C: Nigeria 2-1 Tanzania (Fes)
- Group C: Tunisia 3-1 Uganda (Rabat)
Wednesday, December 24 2025
- Group E: Burkina Faso 2-1 Equatorial Guinea (Casablanca)
- Group E: Algeria 3-0 Sudan (Rabat)
- Group F: Ivory Coast 1-0 Mozambique (Marrakech)
- Group F: Cameroon 1-0 Gabon (Agadir)
Friday, December 26 2025
- Group B: Angola vs Zimbabwe (Marrakech, 12:30)
- Group B: Egypt vs South Africa (Agadir, 15:00)
- Group A: Zambia vs Comoros (Casablanca, 17:30)
- Group A: Morocco vs Mali (Rabat, 20:00)
Saturday, December 27 2025
- Group D: Benin vs Botswana (Rabat, 12:30)
- Group D: Senegal vs DR Congo (Tangier, 15:00)
- Group C: Uganda vs Tanzania (Rabat 3, 17:30)
- Group C: Nigeria vs Tunisia (Fes, 20:00)
Sunday, December 28 2025
- Group F: Gabon vs Mozambique (Agadir, 12:30)
- Group E: Equatorial Guinea vs Sudan (Casablanca, 15:00)
- Group E: Algeria vs Burkina Faso (Rabat, 17:30)
- Group F: Ivory Coast vs Cameroon, (Marrakech, 20:00)
Monday, December 29 2025
- Group B: Angola vs Egypt (Agadir, 16:00)
- Group B: Zimbabwe vs South Africa (Marrakech, 16:00)
- Group A: Comoros vs Mali (Casablanca, 19:00)
- Group A: Zambia vs Morocco (Rabat, 19:00)
Tuesday, December 30 2025
- Group C: Tanzania vs Tunisia (Rabat, 16:00)
- Group C: Uganda vs Nigeria (Fes, 16:00)
- Group D: Benin vs Senegal (Tangier, 19:00)
- Group D: Botswana vs DR Congo (Rabat, 19:00)
Wednesday, December 31 2025
- Group E: Equatorial Guinea vs Algeria (Rabat, 16:00)
- Group E: Sudan vs Burkina Faso (Casablanca, 16:00)
- Group F: Gabon vs Ivory Coast (Marrakech, 19:00)
- Group F: Mozambique vs Cameroon (Agadir, 19:00)
Africa Cup of Nations 2025 round of 16
Saturday, January 3 2026
- SR1: Group D winners vs Group B/E/F third-place (Tangier, 16:00)
- SR2: Group A runners-up vs Group C runners-up (Casablanca, 19:00)
Sunday, January 4
- SR3: Group A winners vs Group C/D/E third-place (Rabat, 16:00)
- SR4: Group B runners-up vs Group F runners-up (Rabat, 19:00)
Monday, January 5
- SR5: Group B winners vs Group A/C/D third-place (Agadir, 6pm)
- SR6: Group C winners vs Group A/B/F third-place (Fes, 8:30pm)
Tuesday, January 6
- SR7: Group E winners vs Group D runners-up (Rabat 2, 6pm)
- SR8: Group F winners vs Group E runners-up (Marrakech, 8:30pm)
Africa Cup of Nations 2025 quarter-finals
Friday, January 9
- QF1: Winner SR2 vs Winner SR1 (Tangier, 16:00)
- QF2: Winner SR4 vs Winner SR3 (Rabat, 19:00)
Saturday, January 10
- QF3: Winner SR7 vs Winner SR6 (Marrakech, 16:00)
- QF4: Winner SR5 vs Winner SR8 (Agadir, 19:00)
Africa Cup of Nations 2025 semi-finals
Wednesday, January 14
- SF1: Winner QF1 vs Winner QF4 (Tangier, 17:00)
- SF2: Winner QF3 vs Winner QF2 (Rabat, 20:00)
Africa Cup of Nations 2025 third-place match
Saturday, January 17
- SF1 vs SF2 losers (Casablanca, 16:00)
Africa Cup of Nations 2025 final
Sunday, January 18
- SF1 vs SF2 winners (Rabat, 19:00)
