Retired footballer Willard Katsande has predicted who could be Bafana Bafana’s toughest opponent in Group B of the upcoming 2025 AFCON.
Bafana are in Group B alongside seven‑time AFCON winners Egypt, Angola and Zimbabwe. On paper, Egypt appear to be the toughest opponent in the group, given their rich history and success in the tournament.
The Pharaohs have rich pedigree and a squad packed with European‑based stars. Angola, meanwhile, have been on a steady rise; their journey in AFCON 2023, held in Côte d’Ivoire, ended in the quarter‑finals.
Bafana were bronze‑medallists in the last tournament and are targeting a strong showing in Morocco. In short, the Hugo Broos‑led side are favourites to go beyond the group phase.
However, former Kaizer Chiefs captain Willard Katsande believes the Warriors of Zimbabwe will be Bafana’s toughest opponent.
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The Warriors frustrated Bafana during the final round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in October, holding Broos’ men to a 0‑0 draw at the Moses Mabhida Stadium and almost derailing their qualification for the global showpiece. Katsande believes the Southern Africa rivalry will intensify at AFCON.
“Southern Africa has created a tension among ourselves. Nothing personal—it’s just competition to see who’s who,” Katsande told FARPost.
“If you look at how South Africa has been building football over the past two decades, we’ve been mirroring them as Zimbabweans. South African teams get talent from Zimbabwe, so we kind of know each other in terms of style.”
He added: “Now we’re heading into a rematch in the AFCON showdown where everybody is playing for three points. Both sides will approach the game cautiously because there’s a huge take.
“We’re all coming from Southern Africa to a higher level—AFCON in Morocco—and it’s going to be interesting to see how the game unpacks. This could be their [against Zimbabwe] toughest match. It’s not about history; it’s about who wants it more on that day and who is better equipped for the game.”
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