AFCON 2025: No One Is Safe, Least of All the Favorites

Favorites under pressure, outsiders without complexes, already fragile balances. The second matchday of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations confirmed what the tournament tirelessly reminds us: here, nothing is ever guaranteed. Egypt beat Zimbabwe without reassuring, Mali were held in check by Zambia, while South Africa made a convincing start against Angola.

Announced among the major favorites, Egypt had to work hard to get the better of a well-organized Zimbabwe (2–1). Dominant in possession but often sterile, the Pharaohs struggled for a long time to get around a disciplined low block, lacking speed and creativity in the final third.

Relief came from Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian captain unlocked the situation thanks to a decisive individual move, confirming his central role in Hossam Hassan’s system. While the result is there, the performance nevertheless leaves questions hanging: the dependence on the Liverpool player appears pronounced, and upcoming opponents will no doubt be better prepared to anticipate this identified danger.

“It was a difficult match. Our start wasn’t the best. But the most important thing is the victory. We created many chances without being able to score quickly, but in the end, everything went well. We kept a good mindset and finished the match well. We are going to learn from everything that happened in tonight’s match,” said Omar Marmoush, named TotalEnergies Man of the Match.

It wins, it doubts, and it starts again

In a balanced encounter, Mali and Zambia parted level (1–1). The Eagles generally controlled the game, imposing high pressing and fluid circulation, but lacked efficiency in the decisive area.

“The equalizing goal hurt a lot. We were aiming for three points in this match. Our difficulties began after the missed penalty. We must not let ourselves be carried away by emotions. This equalizer feels like a victory for Zambia and a defeat for us. From now on, we will need at least one point against Morocco. We said that we wanted to reach the final, and it is still possible,” said Tom Saintfiet, Mali’s head coach.

“My players did the job against Mali. It was our opening match and it wasn’t simple. We conceded an unexpected goal, a gift we gave them and that will have to be corrected. A match lasts 90 minutes; you must never give up. We will prepare well for the next matches and continue to work,” added Moses Sichone, Zambia’s head coach.

This sharing of points reflects a contest in which tactical rigor often took precedence over risk-taking. For both teams, qualification remains open, but the margins for error are shrinking.

More discreet before kickoff, South Africa struck a first blow by clearly winning against Angola (2–1). Serious in their approach, well organized defensively and realistic offensively, Bafana Bafana mastered their subject.

“When I got the ball, I told myself that I had to make the difference. I believed in it, luck smiled on me, and it worked. The main thing was to take the three points. Now we can build on this success and focus on the next match against Egypt,” emphasized Lyle Foster, named Man of the Match.

Without producing spectacular football, the South Africans knew how to manage key moments and punish their opponents’ mistakes. Angola, for their part, showed worrying defensive weaknesses that were quickly exploited. This victory places South Africa in a favorable position for the rest of the group stage.

After two matchdays, AFCON confirms its reputation as a demanding and unpredictable competition. Egypt move forward, but without certainty. Mali must correct their lack of realism. Zambia display reassuring solidity. South Africa are gradually establishing themselves as a credible outsider. The rest of the tournament will tell whether these initial trends are confirmed. One thing is certain: reputations offer no guarantees, and every match continues to be decided by details.