South Africa vs Angola Preview: Team News & Prediction
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South Africa are seeking to continue their improvement of late by going well in the CAF Africa Cup of Nations once again, as they begin in Morocco against Angola.
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
South Africa preview: Improved Bafana Bafana
Under the management of Hugo Broos, South Africa have qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, finishing above Nigeria and Guinea in what was a tough qualifying group, continuing improvement that perhaps began in this competition.
In the 2023 CAF Africa Cup of Nations, which took place in the Ivory Coast in early-2024, the South Africans finished third with knockout wins against Morocco and Cape Verde before a semi-final defeat to Nigeria on penalties.
Angola preview: Frustrated Angola
Unlike South Africa, Angola are perhaps going in the opposite direction with the formerly entertaining and enterprising Angolans having declined of late, with a very disappointing qualifying campaign for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Angola do still try and play an easy on the eye style of football, which saw them reach the quarter-finals of that aforementioned previous AFCON, despite Pedro Goncalves having been replaced by Patrice Beaumelle in the dugout.
South Africa team news: Reliance on Burnley man
In terms of pedigree and quality in the final third, there is a lot of reliance on Burnley striker Lyle Foster, who is ably assisted by the likes of Oswin Appollis and Elias Mokwana, with a lot of excitement around 20-year-old uncapped Club Brugge man Shandre Campbell.
Predicted XI (4-2-4): Williams; Mudau, Sibisi, Ngezana, Modiba; Mokoena, Sithole; Mokwana, Appollis, Foster, Campbell
Unavailable:
Questionable:
Angola team news: New era for Angola
Patrice Beaumelle has kept most of the Angola squad from the Pedro Goncalves era together, but there are quite a few newer players who have switched international allegiances, such as M’Bala Nzola, Manuel Benson and Clinton Mata.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Neblu; Clinton Mata, Carmo, Gaspar, Fortuna; Fredy, Show, Maestro; Zito Luvumbu, Nzola, Benson
Unavailable:
Questionable:
South Africa vs Angola prediction
South Africa have performed well in recent years, and they have been able to put teams away with comfortable victories and a fluent style, but their improvement has been based upon a rigidity in defence. They face an Angola side that play their own enterprising brand, but that itself has become less and less effective and siding with the South Africans would appear the way to go for this one.
South Africa vs Angola tip: South Africa to win & under 3.5 goals
