A former Jomo Cosmos star has suggested that Egypt are Zimbabwe's biggest challenge at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, snubbing their other two Group B opponents, Bafana Bafana and Angola.
South Africa and Zimbabwe are set to lock horns at AFCON 2025 later this year in Morocco, as the two sides were drawn in Group B alongside Angola and Egypt.
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The two teams have met three times since 2021, with Bafana winning two of those games and one ending in a draw.
However, Zimbabwean icon Benjani Mwaruwari insists that Egypt are their toughest obstacle at AFCON later this year.
"If we are to be counted among the best in Africa, we must fight to reach the later stages of such competitions. I challenge the boys to beat Egypt," said Mwaruwari, according to The Chronicle.
Notably, Bafana Bafana have had the upper hand against Zimbabwe in recent years.
In their last meeting in June 2024 during the qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, South Africa claimed a convincing 3-1 win thanks to a brace by Thapelo Morena and a goal from his fellow Mamelodi Sundowns teammate Iqraam Rayners, while Thawanda scored the solitary goal for Zimbabwe.
The Southern African rivalry between these two neighbours is poised to continue as they will meet twice this year.
Before their Group B clash at AFCON 2025 on 29 December, the COSAFA outfits will also go toe-to-toe in another World Cup qualifying match in October 2025.
Elsewhere, AFCON-winning French coach Claude Le Roy also recently earmarked South Africa as one of the teams to watch at the tournament.
According to LeSiteInfo, the former Cameroon boss said: "There are also Nigeria and South Africa who have the ability in this edition, especially the Bafana Bafana team, which continues to develop and has a good coach, as well as Cameroon, which always remains a tough competitor in the Africa Cup of Nations."
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By Lukhanyo Mtuta
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