Bafana drawn in tough Group B alongside Egypt, Angola, and Zimbabwe at the 2025 Afcon

Bafana Bafana have been drawn in Group B for the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 in Morocco alongside Egypt, Angola and Zimbabwe.

They’ll open their campaign against their Cosafa rivals Angola, before facing another neighbour in Zimbabwe. However, in a mouth-watering group stage clash, Bafana will face seven-time African champions – and the most decorated nation on the continent – Egypt on matchday 3.

Can December come already?

Here's what the #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 groups look like after the Final Draw! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/QYQsAIu1e4

— CAF_Online (@CAF_Online) January 27, 2025

The dates and venue of their group stages will be announced by Caf in due course, with the draw conducted in Rabat, Morocco, on Monday night.

Bafana, ranked 10th in Africa and 57th in the world, are expected to progress beyond the group stage. Indeed, following an incredible podium finish – third – in Ivory Coast in January in 2024, Bafana have been tipped as one of the favourites for the tournament.

After all, they’ve also proven their resurgence in the Afcon qualifiers under coach Hugo Broos, having finished top of Group K unbeaten and with a whopping 14 points. Broos and captain Ronwen Williams will know, though, that they cannot read too much into the past.

Instead, they must build on their momentum and strive to get better as a team. Bafana last won Afcon in 1996. Now 29 years after that memorable feat on home soil, they’ll feel that they can rule the continent, given the belief in the team.

The biennial continental showpiece will return to Morocco for the first time since 1988, with Caf president Patrice Motsepe declaring that, “it will be the biggest Afcon of its kind.”

The finals will run in December this year, starting on the 21st until January 8 across six cities in Morocco, who are ranked No 1 in Africa.