South Africa vs Angola prediction, odds & betting tips – 22/12/2025

South Africa and Angola will commence their respective 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaigns with a meeting at Grand Stade de Marrakech on Monday.

The teams have been drawn in Group B of the continental showpiece, where they will battle it out with Egypt and Zimbabwe for a place in the knockout rounds.

South Africa vs Angola prediction: Bafana Bafana to make winning start

Key stats

• South Africa are unbeaten in their last 11 matches across all competitions.
• Hugo Broos's men have scored first in four of their last five games.
• Despite losing just once during that span, Angola have managed just one clean sheet in their most recent six outings.

Correct score prediction: South Africa 2-1 Angola

Both South Africa and Angola are averaging two goals per game over their respective last six matches, indicating that an entertaining affair is likely in Marrakech.

However, South Africa's vastly superior solidity at the back makes them slight favourites here, and we fancy them to carry the day.

Pre-game odds and win probability: Can Angola defy the odds?

• HOME: 7/5 (2.40) – 41.7%
• DRAW: 7/4 (2.75) – 36.4%
• AWAY: 2/1 (3.00) – 33.3%

*Odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change

Heading into the competition as one of the favourites to go all the way, South Africa have been given the bookies' backing to emerge triumphant here, as shown by their 41.7% win probability.

Hugo Broos's men wrapped up their AFCON preparations with a 1-0 triumph over Ghana B, with Sipho Mbule grabbing the winner 12 minutes into the second period.

Like their Monday opponents, Angola will also head into their Group B opener off the back of a comprehensive victory in their final warm-up fixture after putting Mozambique to the sword in a 4-1 rout.

Still, Patrice Beaumelle's men will head into their upcoming clash as underdogs, albeit by only a little margin, given their 33.3% chance of winning

For more from the upcoming matches, today’s free football betting tips look at some of the best picks.

Most recent H2Hs: Five without defeat for Angola

Since losing on penalties to South Africa in a friendly matchup seven years ago, Angola are unbeaten in the subsequent five meetings between the teams, winning all three competitive clashes during that span.

International Match 20/11/22

South Africa

1

Angola

1

African Nations C'ship Qualifying 04/09/22

South Africa

1

Angola

4

African Nations C'ship Qualifying 28/08/22

Angola

2

South Africa

0

International Match 21/03/18

South Africa

1 (6)

Angola

1 (5)

International Match 28/03/17

South Africa

0

Angola

0

South Africa preview: Bafana Bafana out to end three-decade wait for AFCON glory

South Africa have often disappointed in this tournament since their only successful showing in 1996, but they will be keen to impress this time around and build on their third-place finish in the Ivory Coast two years ago.

A bright start on Monday would help set the tone ahead of their subsequent heavyweight encounter with record AFCON winners Egypt.

Predicted lineup: Williams (GK), Mudau, Ndamane, Sibisi, Modiba, Mbatha, Mokoena, Mofokeng, Mbule, Appollis & Foster

South Africa's last five matches:

• South Africa 1-0 Ghana B (Friendly)
• South Africa 3-1 Zambia (Friendly)
• South Africa 3-0 Rwanda (World Cup Qualifying)
• Zimbabwe 0-0 South Africa (World Cup Qualifying)
• South Africa 1-1 Nigeria (World Cup Qualifying)

Angola preview: COSAFA Cup champions aiming to make waves on a larger spell

After romping to regional glory in the most recent edition of the COSAFA Cup, during which they beat South Africa 3-0 in the final, Angola will head to Morocco with a spring in their step.

Having never made it past the AFCON quarter-finals, Beaumelle's men are not currently viewed as one of the major contenders to claim African football's biggest prize, but so much can change in such a short span.

Predicted lineup: Neblu (GK), Bondo, Gaspar, Carmo, Mata, Beni, Fredy, Maestro, Benson, Nzola & Luvumbo

Angola's last five matches:

• Angola 4-1 Mozambique (Friendly)
• Angola 3-2 Zambia (Friendly)
• Angola 0-2 Argentina (Friendly)
• Cameroon 0-0 Angola (World Cup Qualifying)
• Eswatini 2-2 Angola (World Cup Qualifying)

Player to watch – Oswin Appollis

With 13 direct goal contributions in his last 18 matches for club and country, Appollis is playing arguably the best football of his career to date.

Supplying two goals and four assists during the qualifiers, the 24-year-old was crucial in South Africa clinching their AFCON ticket and will be seeking to turn on the style in Morocco.

Appollis was given a rest in the friendly win over Ghana B, but should return to the attack as a part of the supporting cast behind Lyle Foster.