African football fans will turn their attention to the Grand Stade de Marrakech on Monday, as Angola and South Africa kick off their campaigns in the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, hosted by Morocco from December 21 to January 18, 2026. This highly anticipated match is part of the fiercely competitive Group B, which also includes Egypt and Zimbabwe, making the three points crucial for a strong start towards the knockout stages.
Historical dominance of South Africa
Looking back at the history of the Africa Cup of Nations finals, the balance clearly favors South Africa's "Bafana Bafana." Historically, the South Africans have never lost to the "Black Antelopes" in their four previous encounters at the continental tournament, winning twice and drawing twice. This streak began in the 1996 edition, which South Africa won, with a clean sheet victory. This was followed by a goalless draw in 1998, then a 1-1 draw in 2008, before South Africa reasserted their dominance with a second 2-0 win in the 2013 edition.
One of the strange numerical paradoxes in the history of the two teams’ encounters is that they have been in the same group four times before, and each time only one of them qualified for the next round; South Africa had the advantage by qualifying on three occasions, compared to a single time for Angola, which makes tomorrow’s match a struggle to break this rule.
Changing balance of power and Angolan ambitions
Despite South Africa's historical dominance in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the current reality suggests a shift in the balance of power. The Angolan national team enters the match with sky-high morale, buoyed by an impressive run of positive results, having gone undefeated in their last six encounters with South Africa across various competitions. Perhaps the most notable of these results was their resounding 3-0 victory in the 2015 COSAFA Cup final. Conversely, the South African team is suffering from a prolonged winless streak against their opponents, with their last victory dating back to 2015, placing added pressure on the current generation to reclaim their lost prestige.
Bafana Bafana's experience against the ambitions of the Cheetahs
South Africa, making their 12th appearance at the tournament, are relying on their vast continental experience and the guidance of veteran Belgian coach Hugo Broos, who led the team to a bronze medal at the 2023 edition. The squad boasts a wealth of talent, including towering goalkeeper Ronwen Williams and dynamic midfielder Teboho Mokoena. However, the team faces a psychological challenge stemming from their typically poor start, having failed to win their opening match in their last six appearances.
On the other side, the Angolan national team is participating for the tenth time, hoping to capitalize on the technical boom it is experiencing, especially after reaching the quarter-finals of the 2023 edition. French coach Patrice Beaumelle seeks to lead the “Panthers” towards breaking the historical jinx and achieving a victory that will shake up the Group B standings early, taking advantage of the clear tactical and physical development in his players’ performance during the recent period.
