The final round of pool fixtures kicks off at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco on Monday, as the Round of 16 draw begins to take shape.
Host nation Morocco can go into their last Group A match with Zambia in confident mood, while it’s a scramble between Comoros and Mali for a shot at progression.
Group B sees Egypt safely through in advance of their game with Angola, with South Africa needing to avoid a slip up at the hands of neighbours Zimbabwe in order to make it through alongside the Pharoahs.
*All kick off times are in Central Africa Time.
Group A: Comoros vs Mali – 21.00
It’s all to play for in Casablanca on Monday, as Comoros and Mali battle to make it out of Group A at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Eagles have the edge coming into the final round of fixtures, with a pair of draws leaving them in second place, a point ahead of the Coelacanths.
Lassine Sinayoko’s second half penalty proved enough to earn a draw with host nation Morocco in front of a partisan crowd in Rabat last Friday.
Coupled with their opening stalemate with Zambia, it means a positive result here should do the trick.
It’s a simple equation for the island nation, who really need a win to make it through to the knockouts, having lost out to the Moroccans before claiming a goalless draw with Zambia three days ago.
Group A: Zambia vs Morocco – 21.00
Morocco have top spot in Group A in their sights as they finish the first phase of their home 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Rabat on Monday.
The Atlas Lions made a solid start in seeing off minnows Comoros on the opening night, with Brahim Diaz and Ayoub El Kaabi both on target in a 2-0 victory.
But they were pegged back by Mali in their second outing, as Diaz saw his penalty on the stroke of half time cancelled out as their opponents responded in kind after the break.
It leaves them in pole position but they will have to be wary of the Zambians, who would leapfrog them if they can pull off an upset at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.
Chipolopolo have been solid if unspectacular so far this Afcon.
The 2012 champions opened up with a 1-1 draw against Mali, before being much more frustrated to come out of their contest with Comoros with just a single point in Casablanca last Friday.
Group B: Angola vs Egypt – 18.00
Egypt set out to finish the job in Group B on Monday, as they meet Angola in their final round-robin fixture at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Agadir.
The Pharoahs have six points from six, but that perfect record tells nothing of the full story of their tournament so far.
Mohamed Salah has twice been the hero, first when he popped up with a stoppage time winner against Zimbabwe, who had fought so hard before going down 2-1.
And he was at it against against South Africa when he netted a suspiciously-awarded penalty just before half time, moments before a red card for Mohamed Hany that left them clinging on for dear life throughout the second half.
Angola’s chief hope is that their hotshot opponents ease off the gas enough for them to spring a surprise.
They were edged out by Bafana Bafana in their opening pool fixture, before Gelson Dala’s opener against Zimbabwe ultimately only proved enough to earn a point in Marrakech.
Group B: Zimbabwe vs South Africa – 18.00
South Africa must be on their mettle to ensure progression from Group B at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, where they meet Zimbabwe in Marrakech on Monday.
The neighbours meet with Bafana Bafana smarting from their 1-0 defeat to Mohamed Salah’s Egypt last Friday.
A controversial penalty led to Salah’s only goal of the game, while the South Africans were denied a late spot kick of their own in the dying stages, despite VAR attempting to change the referee’s mind.
Hugo Broos’s side had earlier edged out Angola in their opening match, as they grapple with increasing expectations ahead of their jaunt to the 2026 Fifa World Cup in the middle of next year.
The Warriors picked up their first point of their competition thanks to an equaliser against Angola courtesy of Knowledge Musona.
They had earlier suffered heartbreak when that man Salah produced a 91st-minute winner for Egypt in the opening round of games, leaving them likely needing an upset here to make it through to the knockouts.
Predictions for 2025 Afcon matches on 29 December
Zambia vs Morocco
| Category | Prediction |
|---|---|
| First to score | Zambia |
| Over/Under Prediction | Under 2.5 goals |
| HT/FT Prediction | Draw / Zambia |
| Team to score prediction | Both teams |
| Result prediction | Zambia to win |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | Patson Daka (Zambia) |
Comoros vs Mali
| Category | Prediction |
|---|---|
| First to score | Mali |
| Over/Under Prediction | Under 2.5 goals |
| HT/FT Prediction | Mali / Draw |
| Team to score prediction | Both teams |
| Result prediction | Draw |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | Lassine Sinayoko (Mali) |
Angola vs Egypt
| Category | Prediction |
|---|---|
| First to score | Angola |
| Over/Under Prediction | Over 2.5 goals |
| HT/FT Prediction | Angola / Angola |
| Team to score prediction | Both teams |
| Result prediction | Angola to win |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | Mabululu (Angola), Gelson Dala (Angola), Mohamed Mostafa (Egypt) |
Zimbabwe vs South Africa
| Category | Prediction |
|---|---|
| First to score | Zimbabwe |
| Over/Under Prediction | Under 2.5 goals |
| HT/FT Prediction | Zimbabwe / Zimbabwe |
| Team to score prediction | Both teams |
| Result prediction | Zimbabwe to win |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | N/A |
Afcon 2025: Group B standings ahead of the final games
| Team | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Egypt | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| South Africa | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Angola | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 1 |
| Zimbabwe | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 1 |
Afcon 2025: Group A standings ahead of the final games
| Team | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morocco | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| Mali | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Zambia | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Comoros | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 1 |