While South Africa’s Bafana Bafana  group will have a distinct Southern African feel, they will come up against the giants of African football Egypt and their Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah  at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations(AFCON).

Bafana, who entered the draw in Pot 2, were also drawn with neighbours Zimbabwe and Angola in Monday evening’s draw in Rabat. They will certainly fancy their chances against their SADC partners, before going up against the Egyptians for the right to possibly top the group.

It’s not an impossible task, as Bafana beat hosts Egypt in Egypt 1-0 in the 2019 Afcon quarter-finals thanks to a goal by Thembinkosi Lorch. Later that year, Bafana also beat Egypt in Egypt in a 2021 Afcon qualifier when Lyle Foster scored the game’s only goal.

Coach Hugo Broos’ Bafana finished the 2023 Afcon in the Ivory Coast third place after beating DR Congo 6-5 on penalties after the match ended goalless. The victory over DR Congo also ensured that South Africa earned the bronze medal for the first time since 2000.

Bafana went through their 2025 qualifying campaign unbeaten, topping their group with 14 points from six matches, scoring 16 goals and conceding just five. This will give them a lot of confidence heading into the tournament, which will be played between from December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026.