31 December 2025
AFCON / FULL MATCH ANALYSIS, STATISTICS AND PREDICTIONS

South Africa Vs Angola Full Match analysis and Prediction

South Africa Vs Angola Full Match analysis and Prediction

South Africa and Angola will face each other on Monday, December 22, 2025 at 17:00 GMT (6:00 PM local time in Morocco) at the Grand Stade de Marrakech. This is their opening Group B match in the Africa Cup of Nations 2025.

Recent Form & Context

South Africa (Bafana Bafana):

  • Finished third at the last AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire, which surprised many
  • Recently qualified for the 2026 World Cup ahead of Nigeria
  • The squad is primarily made up of locally-based players whose cohesion and understanding has become the envy of many national teams
  • Coming in with strong momentum after their World Cup qualification

Angola (Palancas Negras):

  • Won the 2025 COSAFA Cup with a dominant 3-0 victory over South Africa in the final
  • Making their tenth appearance at AFCON, still dreaming of surpassing their quarterfinal runs from 2008, 2010, and 2023
  • Back-to-back COSAFA Cup champions (2024 and 2025)
  • Will be without Zito Luvumbo due to injury
AspectSouth Africa (Bafana Bafana)Angola (Palancas Negras)
📊 Current FormUnbeaten in last 11 games. 3 wins, 2 draws in last 5.Unbeaten in 30 of last 35 games. 2 wins, 2 draws, 1 loss in last 5.
🛡️ Defensive StrengthExtremely solid: Conceded only 2 goals in last 5 games. Kept clean sheets in last 3 home AFCON matches.Very disciplined: Conceded avg. 0.40 goals/game recently. Unbeaten in a tough AFCON 2025 qualifying group.
⚽ Attack & Key PlayersRelies on structure vs. star power. Key: Teboho Mokoena (midfield control), Lyle Foster (target man), set-pieces.Threat comes from teamwork. Key: Mabululu (clinical striker). Topped a group with Ghana in qualifiers.
🎯 Tactical ProfileHugo Broos: Flexible, emphasizes defensive compactness, quick transitions.Pedro Gonçalves: Organized, resilient, built from a strong youth foundation.

Head-to-Head Record

In 14 matches since 2008, South Africa has won 6, Angola has won 4, and 4 ended in draws. However, the most recent significant meeting was Angola’s commanding 3-0 victory over South Africa in the COSAFA Cup final, where striker Depu scored twice and set a tournament record.

Prediction

The most likely outcome for this match is a draw, with a probable scoreline of 0-0 or 1-1. This is supported by several key factors:

  • Defensive Stalemate: Both teams enter the tournament in excellent defensive form, making a goal-heavy game unlikely. Statistical models give a draw a 43% probability.
  • Tournament Opener Caution: As the first game in a group that also includes Egypt, neither side will want to lose, favoring a cautious approach.
  • Historical Context: The head-to-head record is evenly balanced, and recent encounters have often been close.