Zimbabwe’s hopes of reaching the Round of 16 at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations hinge on Monday’s decisive Group B clash against neighbours South Africa.
The match will be played at Marrakech Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 6 pm CAT.
Egypt have already sealed qualification from the group with six points after beating both Zimbabwe and South Africa.
South Africa sit second with three points, while Angola and Zimbabwe occupy third and fourth place respectively, with one point apiece.
Team News
Warriors coach Marian Marinaca has promised to make changes to the starting XI for the encounter against South Africa.
Teenage Hadebe is a doubt after picking up an injury on Friday, while Munashe Garan’anga has not yet been cleared to play on Monday evening after sustaining a dead leg last week.
Coaches’ Comments
Marian Marinaca – Zimbabwe: “Sometimes the idea of rivalry is taken too far. In the end, it is simply two nations facing each other, with the same ambition: to win.”
Hugo Broos – South Africa: “In our last match, we knew we could not afford to lose, and it is exactly the same situation for tomorrow. If we do not lose this match, we will be qualified for the next round, and that is what matters most for us.”
Zimbabwe’s Path to the Round of 16
A win against Bafana Bafana, coupled with either a draw or defeat for Angola against Egypt, would guarantee the Warriors a place in the Round of 16. That outcome would see Zimbabwe leapfrog into second place.
Even if Zimbabwe finish third, four points is a strong total that could be enough to secure one of the four best third-placed spots across all groups.
A draw would leave the Warriors on two points. To finish third in that scenario, Angola would need to lose and remain on one point, while South Africa would move to four points and finish second behind Egypt.
Head-to-Head Stats
The most recent meeting between the two sides came in October, when they faced each other in World Cup qualifiers. The match ended in a goalless draw.
Across their past meetings, South Africa hold a slight advantage with eight wins, while Zimbabwe have claimed six victories, with five draws between them. Bafana Bafana are unbeaten in their last four matches against the Warriors (W2, D2).
This Group B fixture will mark the first meeting between the two rivals at AFCON finals.
Form
Zimbabwe earned their first points of AFCON 2025 with a 1–1 draw against Angola. They remain winless after two matches but have scored in both games so far.
South Africa opened their AFCON 2025 campaign with a win over Angola before suffering a narrow 1–0 defeat to Egypt. They have won just one of their last five AFCON matches in open play.
FIFA Rankings
Zimbabwe: 129
South Africa: 61
TV Info
Football fans across the region will be able to follow the match live on various broadcasters.
Zimbabwe-based viewers can watch all the action on Azam TV Zimbabwe. All 52 matches at the tournament are set to be broadcast on Azam TV.
Article continues below.
Soccer24 followers also have the opportunity to enjoy a special discount courtesy of Azam TV Zimbabwe.
ZBC TV will also show the match locally, while South Africa-based audiences can follow the game on SABC Sport. For fans across the wider region — including Zimbabwe — coverage will also be available on SuperSport.
In addition to live television broadcasts, streaming options will be accessible via the broadcasters’ official digital platforms, allowing supporters to follow the match online.
Related Posts
#AFCON #Group #Zimbabwe #South #Africa #Preview #team #news #info #stats
