Egypt vs South Africa Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Egypt eventually got themselves off to a winning start in Group B of the 2025/26 CAF Africa Cup of Nations as they now take on fellow opening game winners South Africa.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Matches will be televised across the Channel 4 network / USA – beIN Sports
How to watch online: UK – All 4 & Channel 4 Sport YouTube / USA – beIN Sports Connect & Fubo
Egypt preview: Winning just about
Under the management of Hossam Hassan, Egypt appear to have returned to being one of the stronger teams in Africa but the seven-time African champions had to overcome a major scare to get off to a winning start the other day.
A poor Zimbabwe side opened the scoring against the Pharaohs mid-way through the first-half before Manchester City striker Omar Marmoush equalised for the Egyptians and then Liverpool legend Mohamed Salah pinched them a late win.
South Africa preview: Brilliant Bafana Bafana
Having confirmed qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the autumn, South Africa are in the midst of a majorly improved international cycle and, under the management of Hugo Broos, they began with a win the other day.
Oswin Appollis had opened the scoring for Bafana Bafana, up against an enterprising Angola side in Marrakech, before Show equalised for the Angolans. Burnley striker Lyle Foster snatched the South Africans a winner in the second-half, though.
Egypt team news: Finding a balance in attack
Emam Ashour was forced off through injury in the first-half and that may be a blessing in disguise because Mostafa Mohamed was harshly left out and then provided a match-winning assist for Salah.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): El Shenawy; Hany, Ibrahim, Abdelmaguid, Hamdi; Ateya, Fathy; Salah, Mostafa Mohamed, Trezeguet; Marmoush
Unavailable:
Questionable: Ashour (Injured)
South Africa team news: Maybe no Nkota
Al Ettifaq forward Mohau Nkota was replaced at half-time against Angola and so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see someone else try and support the likes of Appollis and Foster in the final third.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Williams; Mudau, Ngezana, Mbokazi, Modiba; Moremi, Mokoena, Sithole, Appollis; Foster, Mbule
Unavailable:
Questionable:
Egypt vs South Africa prediction
Egypt lacked fluency in the final third but the sheer quality of their attack, with the likes of Marmoush and Salah supported by Trezeguet and Mostafa Mohamed, means they can always get themselves out of jail. South Africa themselves will believe they have more than enough to create, too, and we may have one of those rare thrillers for the neutral in an AFCON group stage.
Egypt vs South Africa tip: Both teams to score
