Salah penalty sends Egypt through as 10-man Pharaohs subdue South Africa; Zimbabwe hold Angola

Egypt became the first side to book a place in the knockout stage of the 2025 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco as they edged past South Africa 1-0 in a tense Group B encounter in Agadir on Friday, showing composure and resilience despite being reduced to 10 men.

In a contest expected to be finely balanced, Egypt national football team found the breakthrough just before half-time through captain Mohamed Salah.

The forward stepped up after VAR confirmed a penalty and calmly chipped his effort beyond Ronwen Williams, rewarding Egypt’s brighter first-half display. Moments later, the match swung again when Mohamed Hany was dismissed for a second booking, leaving the Pharaohs to navigate the entire second half with a numerical disadvantage.

Head coach Hossam Hassan responded swiftly, reshaping his side to prioritise structure and defensive control. South Africa sought to capitalise, pushing higher and committing numbers forward.

South Africa national football team enjoyed sustained periods of pressure, but struggled to convert possession into clear chances, with goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy commanding his area and Egypt’s back line holding firm.

Despite their reduced numbers, Egypt remained a threat on the counter, using Salah’s movement and pace to relieve pressure and disrupt South Africa’s rhythm.

The match’s decisive moment arrived deep into stoppage time when South Africa appealed for a penalty following a handball incident. After a lengthy VAR review, the referee waved play on, sparing Egypt late heartbreak.

The final whistle confirmed a victory of control rather than dominance. Egypt moved to six points at the top of Group B, securing early qualification and ending a long wait for a competitive win over South Africa.

Bafana Bafana, meanwhile, remain well placed to progress but were left to rue missed opportunities on a night when fine margins once again defined AFCON football.

Earlier, Angola and Zimbabwe played out a 1-1 draw in their Group B encounter at the Stade de Marrakech, leaving both sides still searching for their first victory in the tournament. In a competitive clash where both defences were tested, it was Angola who struck first, only for Zimbabwe to respond late in the first half to ensure the points were shared.

The breakthrough came in the 24th minute, when Angola opened the scoring through a well-worked move. Gelson Dala finished with composure, firing a right-footed shot into the bottom left corner after a precise through ball from Tó Carneiro split the Zimbabwe defence. The goal was a reward for Angola’s early pressure and attacking intent, sparking celebrations among their supporters.

Zimbabwe gradually grew into the game and were rewarded in first-half stoppage time. In the 45+6th minute, Knowledge Musona capitalised on a fast break, firing a composed right-footed finish from the right side of the box into the bottom left corner to level the scores, with Bill Antonio providing the decisive assist.

From the restart, Angola dominated possession and territory, creating multiple opportunities and keeping Zimbabwe under constant pressure. Despite their dominance, they were unable to find a winner, while Zimbabwe remained dangerous on the counter and created chances that could have seen them snatch a late victory. Even after four minutes of additional time, the score remained unchanged, and the match ended in a stalemate.

With the draw, both Angola and Zimbabwe remain without a win in AFCON 2025. Their hopes of progressing to the knockout stages now hinge on strong performances in their remaining group matches, as they look to build on this performance and secure vital points in the race for qualification.