AFCON 2025 Group B Predictions: Salah circus the big story of Egypt’s group campaign

The biennial football festival that is the Africa Cup of Nations gets underway in Morocco on Sunday, with the continent’s 24 finest countries battling it out over 52 matches at nine stadiums in six cities.

Given the soap opera which has been played out in Liverpool of late, many eyes will be on Mo Salah and Egypt when they take on Angola, South Africa and Zimbabwe in Group B. My Afcon Group B predictions are below, complete with team-by-team previews and Betfred’s match odds.

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Angola

Fifa world ranking: 89

To win the group: 5/1

A long-time former assistant to notorious Afrophile Herve Renard, Angola boss Patrice Beaumelle is himself in his third role as head coach of an African nation. And all three are former haunts of his old friend Renard.

As a Pot 3 team in a group featuring Egypt and South Africa, it’s clear that the Red Devils will not be expected to progress by many.

But if Beaumelle can have an early effect – he only took up the post in September – then there be a shock or two from a squad including Swansea City’s Manuel Benson and Serie A stars Zito Luvumbo (Cagliari), Kialonda Gaspar (Lecce), Rui Modesto (Udinese) and Pisa hotshot M’Bala Nzola.

Key player: Fredy

A big step up from the Turkish second tier though this may be, Beaumelle will be delighted to see his national team skipper Fredy is such great form with Bodrumspor.

The 35-year-old, who represented Portugal at every level from U16 to U21, has gone from chipping in with occasional strikes in the top tier to delivering 10 goals and 10 assists in 17 matches this season following Bodrum’s relegation in the summer.

If he can transfer any of that sort of form, then Angola could make enough of any opportunities they get against Egypt and South Africa to qualify at least as one of the better third-place teams.

Prediction: While I can’t see them doing enough damage to claim a top-two spot in Group B, they should be able to see off Zimbabwe and claim one of the four places available in the Round of 16. Anything after that will be a massive bonus.

Football Odds

Egypt

Fifa world ranking: 34

To win the group: 8/13

The travelling circus that is Mo Salah and Liverpool stops off in Morocco for the next month. At least, that’s how long Egypt supporters will be hoping this lasts.

A nation desperate for continental success following 15 fallow years will again be pinning their hopes on their star attacker regaining his best form. But whatever their stance on the recent stand-off between player and club, Liverpool fans will agree that the current iteration of Salah is some way short of his peak.

If the Pharaohs can get off to a good start, then who knows what momentum can do for the nation which dominated successive tournaments in 2006, 2008 and 2010.

Key player: Trezeguet

Tempting though it is to pick out Salah as the man who could most influence Egypt’s fortunes over the next few weeks, somebody like Trezeguet might actually hold greater sway.

If Salah’s form this season has shown anything, it is that he needs the conditions around him to be conducive to success if he is to thrive. And in a competition which will likely see him well marked, Egyptian fans can only hope that somebody like Trezeguet will get that extra space.

With Omar Marmoush struggling this term at Man City, it is Trezeguet’s form with Al Ahly which should give his compatriots most reason for optimism.

Prediction: Given the endless question marks over many of their better players, it is hard to envisage Egypt having enough to beat some of the bigger-name nations. They have a soft group, so should make the most of the draw as far as the quarter-finals. But at that point they would likely meet Ivory Coast, and one has to believe that will be the end of them.

Africa Cup of Nations Odds

South Africa

Fifa world ranking: 61

To win the group: 5/2

While many of Bafana Bafana’s fans will have a certain date in June circled in the calendar when they kick off the World Cup against Mexico at the Azteca Stadium, they first have 2023’s semi-final appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations to back up.

Former Cameroon boss Hugo Broos is the head coach who has taken South Africa back to the World Cup 16 years on from their home tournament. He also led the side to that third-place finish in the 2023 Afcon having initially taken the job after the humiliating failure to qualify in ’21.

So it’s a rejuvenated Bafana who arrive in Morocco, with a young, exuberant group of players looking to build on their great recent strides.

Key player: Teboho Mokoena

At 28, Mokoena is one of the older players in South Africa’s 25-player squad, and he comes with recent big-game experience.

He was one of the bright spots of a Mamelodi Sundowns side which narrowly missed out on progressing from Group F of the Club World Cup in June, drawing 0-0 with eventual semi-finalists Fluminense in what for them was a must-win fixture.

A defensive midfielder by trade, he is far from afraid to shoot from distance when in space. And in a SA side with a number of weapons in the attacking third – including Burnley’s Lyle Foster – the nine-goal, 45-cap midfielder promises to offer a whole dimension to Bafana’s threat.

Prediction: I fancy South Africa to cause a few issues. Even if they finish behind Egypt, as seedings would suggest, I could well see them dealing with Cameroon in the Round of 16 if that’s the way things fall.

And that would land them in a quarter-final tie will only one potential group winner – and that from hosts Morocco’s group. A second straight semi-final is far from beyond them.

Zimbabwe

Fifa world ranking: 129

To win the group: 25/1

Having only recorded three wins in five previous group-stage failures in the Afcon finals, it’s fair to say expectations are limited for Zimbabwe in the 2025 event.

Mario Marinica’s squad faces the tough task of facing Egypt and then South Africa in their first two fixtures, making the building of early momentum a tough prospect.

Their big hope will be that they can keep any group defeats close and then beat Angola to give themselves a chance of being one of the better third-place teams.

Key player: Tawanda Maswanhise

Maswanhise has become one of the star players of the Scottish Premiership this season, netting eight goals in his first 13 Motherwell matches.

He has since failed to score in four, but the Warriors’ big hope will be that he can regain that kind of form in front of goal for a national team for whom he has registered just once in 14 appearances.

While Prince Dube has a reasonable international record, it is Maswanhise who could really set down a marker alongside him if he can bring his club form to the Afcon stage.

Prediction: It is a big ask for Zimbabwe to really make a mark at this tournament.

There might well be a smattering of decent experience in the squad, with the likes of Marvellous Nakamba, Andy Rinomhota and Brendan Galloway having lots of English Championship appearances to their names. But the lack of depth suggests even third place in the group will be beyond them.

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