SA's Hugo Broos looks beyond Warriors

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has expressed confidence ahead of South Africa's Group B encounter with neighbours Zimbabwe at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The draw, conducted on Monday in Morocco, placed South Africa in the same group as Egypt, Angola, and Zimbabwe, a lineup that has been widely regarded as one of the tournament's toughest.

Despite the challenges, Broos, a Belgian coach with extensive experience in African football, is unfazed by the competition, particularly the match against Zimbabwe. South Africa's opening match will be against Egypt, followed by a fixture against Angola, and a final group stage clash against Zimbabwe.

Speaking to the South African Football Association media, Broos said he was satisfied with the draw, pointing to Egypt as the team to beat for the group's top spot. "Egypt is the favourite to win the group. They had a disappointing campaign in the last AFCON, but in the last year or so, they've built a very good team," Broos remarked. "They did very well in the qualifiers, and they will be the team to beat for first place."

Broos' confidence is also rooted in South Africa's recent record against Zimbabwe. The last meeting between the two sides was in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier last year, where Bafana Bafana triumphed 2-1 in Bloemfontein. Historically, South Africa has had the upper hand over Zimbabwe, with three wins and one draw in their previous encounters.

"Zimbabwe is a neighbour of South Africa, and it's always a very difficult game for us," Broos acknowledged. "But in all the games we've played against Zimbabwe, we've won three times and drawn once. So, I believe winning against Zimbabwe is very possible in this AFCON."

Broos also expressed a sense of mystery surrounding Angola, acknowledging that they are less familiar as an opponent. "Angola is a team I don't know very well, so it will be very important for us to do a thorough analysis and be well-prepared for that game," he said.

Former Angola star Fabrice Alcebiades Maieco, known as "Akwa," highlighted the competitive nature of Group B, naming Egypt, South Africa, and Angola as the primary contenders for progression. However, he pointed out that Zimbabwe could emerge as a surprise package, much to the concern of the other teams.

"The group is complicated because we have two teams that have previously won the AFCON (Egypt and South Africa)," Akwa said. "Angola has the potential to perform well if we play as a team, just like we did in the last AFCON and the qualifiers for this edition." He added that Angola's unbeaten record in the qualifiers and top position in their group gave them confidence heading into the tournament.

Former Bafana Bafana captain Neil Tovey weighed in on the challenges of Group B, calling it "very tough" for all teams involved. He also acknowledged the fierce rivalry that will exist between South Africa and Zimbabwe, as well as the proximity of Angola and South Africa, which adds another layer of intensity to the fixtures.

For Zimbabwe, former Warriors striker Alois Bunjira remains hopeful, predicting that the team will battle it out with South Africa for the top two spots in the group. Bunjira noted improvements in Zimbabwe's performance since their last meeting with Bafana Bafana and is expecting an exciting clash when the two sides face off at AFCON.

"I expect a blockbuster when Zimbabwe and South Africa meet at AFCON," Bunjira said, suggesting that the two teams could end up occupying the top two spots in Group B.

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations promises to be a thrilling competition, and Group B is shaping up to be one of the most competitive pools, with Egypt, South Africa, Angola, and Zimbabwe all aiming for success on the continental stage.