Bafana Bafana's AFCON finals journey in Morocco will come with an opposition list of two countries which they have played against at the tournament on at least three occasions, plus a familiar neighbour.
Hugo Broos' men will face Egypt, Angola, and Zimbabwe in Group B at the tournament in Morocco.
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Bafana have met both The Pharaohs and Palancas Negras in a combined seven games at the AFCON finals, while a match-up against The Warriors will be a first at this tournament.
As hosts and eventual champions in 1996, Bafana were in the same group with both Egypt and Angola.
They were 1-0 winners over fellow debutants Palancas Negras, before then going down by a solitary goal in the last group match against the Pharaohs, who had already been champions thrice by then.
At the 1998 tournament held in Burkina Faso, it was Bafana with Angola again in Group C and the two countries played to a goalless draw.
The Jomo Sono-coached team then also came stuck again against Egypt in the final after succumbing to a 2-0 defeat.
At the 2008 edition in Ghana, Bafana again found themselves with Angola in the same group.
It was another draw (1-1), but the Angolans proceeded from the group, while Bafana finished bottom.
As second-time hosts in 2013, Gordon Igesund recorded a 2-0 victory against the Portuguese-speaking country in a Group A match played at Moses Mabhida Stadium.
Come 2019, Bafana sneaked into the knockout stages, where Thembinkosi Lorch's goal meant an upset with the host nation Egypt booted out in the Last 16.
So, as it stands, Bafana have lost twice and won once against Egypt at the Nations Cup, while with Angola it has been two wins and two draws.
Then, for all the matches that have been contested against neighbours Zimbabwe, none has ever been at the AFCON finals, so this will be the first time that the two are in the same group.
The Warriors have been reorganizing themselves after a FIFA ban and better is expected with Nqobile Magwizi as the new ZIFA president.
German coach Michael Nees has plenty selection options scattered across leagues in USA to England, Italy, France, Denmark, Wales, Iraq, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.
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The tournament in Morocco will run from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, with Bafana's games scheduled for December 22 against Angola, Egypt (December 26), and Zimbabwe (December 29).
The top two in all six groups, plus the four best runners-up, proceed to the Last 16.