CAN 2025: starting lineups, teams

Angola and Zimbabwe are looking to secure their first points at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) when the two teams meet on Friday in Marrakech.

Show’s goal drew the Palancas Negras level against South Africa in their Group B opener on Monday, but Burnley’s Lyle Taylor scored the decisive goal 11 minutes from time in their 2-1 defeat.

The Warriors were unlucky not to earn at least a point in their meeting with seven-time champions Egypt later in the evening, with Prince Dube giving them the lead in the 20th minute before Manchester City striker Omar Marmoush equalized after the break and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah scored a winner in added time.

101GreatGoals.com has team news and starting line-ups as Angola and Zimbabwe continue their CAN 2025 campaigns.

Who dropped the rhythm? Angola lost it and we love to see it! 🎶🇦🇴#TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 pic.twitter.com/HwzulbQeZl

– CAN TotalEnergies 2025 (@CAF_Online) December 19, 2025

Line-ups of Angola vs Zimbabwe

Angola’s three changes include the arrival of Nottingham Forest centre-back David Carmo on loan to Oviedo.

Winger Manuel Benson – currently on loan from Burnley to Swansea City – is also new to their squad, as is Vitoria midfielder Beni.

Kialonda Gaspar, Maestro and Zito Luvumbo give way. AEK Athens striker Zini Salvador has been ruled out of the tournament after suffering an injury at club level.

Angola starting eleven: Hugo Marques, Clinton Mata, Jonathan Buatu, David Carmo, To Carneiro, Manuel Benson, Beni, Fredy, Show, Gelson Dala, M’Bala Nzola

Angola substitutes: Signori Antonio, Nario Fortuna, Gaspar Kilonda, Milson, Maestro, Ary Pap, Nteka Blood, Mabululu, Eddie Afonso, Neblu, Mario Balburdia, Rui Modesto, Chico Banza, Pedro Bondo

Zimbabwe starting XI against Angola

Experienced striker Knowledge Musona, who has 26 international goals, enters the starting line-up for Zimbabwe, who will be without Walter Musona, who scored twice in qualifying.

Also new faces in their side are defender Divine Lunga, winger Bill Antonio and striker Macauley Bonne, from English eighth division side Maldon & Tiptree.

God knows Murwira, Munashe Garan’anga, Daniel Msendami and Washington Navaya are on the bench.

Zimbabwe starting lineup: Washington Areington, Gerveld Takara, Marvelous Cheneria and tomorrow Hadebe, Dube, Steam, Monah Fabisch, Bill Antoniio, Divinie Love, Konneleyon, Macauyon.

Zimbabwe substitutes: Elvis Chipezeze, Sean Fusire, Prosper Padera, Washington Navaya, Brendan Galloway, Daniel Msendami, Martin Mapisa, Tawanda Maswanhise, Tawanda Chirewa, Godknows Murwira, Isheanesu Mauchi, Alec Mudimu, Ishmael Wadi, Junior Zindoga
28 We Saw Chakuchichi

How to watch Angola vs Zimbabwe: TV channel, live stream online

Kick-off on Friday will be at 12:30 GMT (07:30 ET / 04:30 PT). In the UK, live CAN 2025 coverage is on Channel 4’s 4seven, All 4 and YouTube channels. In the USA, beIN Sports is the tournament broadcaster.

Online live streaming is available on a wide range of devices via Channel 4 website and the beIN Sports app and app.

Angola vs Zimbabwe Statistics

• Angola failed to win nine of its first ten CAN matches (6 draws, 3 defeats), with the exception of 2012 with a 2-1 victory against Burkina Faso.
• In Angola’s two previous defeats in their first match (1996 and 2006), Angola drew the next match.
• They never lost their first match and qualified for the round of 16.
• In the previous nine CAN second group matches, Angola has won three (2008 against Senegal, 2010 against Mali, 2023 against Mauritania), drawn four and lost two (both against South Africa, in 1996 and 2013).
• Show’s goal was his second for the national team in 50 appearances and his first in a final in his eighth such match.
• Fredy produced his fourth assist in his last four matches, but it was the first time Angola had lost a match in which Fredy had assisted, having won the previous two.
• Their total of 23 fouls against South Africa is the highest in a single AFCON match since at least 2010.
• Three of Angola’s last six goals in CAN have been scored from free kicks, all assisted by Fredy.
• Zimbabwe have never won in their first two finals matches, with all three wins coming in their final group match.
• After scoring the first goal but losing a fifth time in the tournament, his overall record in AFCON is 3 wins, 2 draws and 11 losses.
• None of their matches in the final ended 0-0 and they never recorded a clean sheet.
• Dube’s goal was his seventh for the national team and his first at the AFCON in his seventh appearance.
• This is their second match against a southern African team at the CAN; the first was a 2–1 defeat against Malawi in their second group match of 2021
• A series of goals in each of their last three matches is the longest series of successive goals in CAN in their history.
• In five previous CAN appearances, they have lost their second group match four times (2004, 2006, 2017, 2021) and drawn one (2019).

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The Angola team for CAN 2025

Goalkeepers: Neblu (First August), Hugo Marques (Petro de Luanda), Dominique (Etoile Carouge).

Defenders: Rui Modesto (Udinese), Eddie Afonso (Petro de Luanda), To Carneiro (AS FAR), Nurio Fortuna (Volos FC), Pedro Bondo (Famalicao), David Carmo (Real Oviedo), Buatu (Gil Vicente), Gaspar (Lecce), Clinton Mata (Lyon).

Midfield: Beni Mukendi (Victoria SC), Show (Kocaelispor), Fredy (Bodrumspor), Maestro (Alanyaspor), Manuel Keliano (Akhmat Grozny), Mario Balburdia (Boluspor).

Advantages: Zito Luvium (Cagliar), Manuel Beens (Swana City), Milson Tripoli), Zine (AHT Athes),

Zimbabwe team for CAN 2025

Goalkeepers: Washington Arubi (Marumo Gallants), Elvis Chipezeze (Magesi), Martin Mapisa (MWOS FC).

Defenders: Godknows Murwira (Scotland), Emmanuel Jalai (Dynamos FC), Sean Fusire (Sheffield Wednesday), Munashe Garananga (FC Copenhagen), Gerald Takwara (Al Ittihad Misurata), Isheanesu Mauchi (Simba Bora), Brendon Galloway (Plymouth Argyle), Teenage Hadebe (FC Cincinnati), Alec Mudimu (Flint Town United), Divine Lunga (Mamelodi Sundowns).

Midfield: Marvelous Nakamba (Luton Town), Jonah Fabisch (Erzgebirg Aue), Andy Rinomhota (Reading), Prosper Padera (SJK Seinajoki), Tawanda Chirewa (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Knowledge Musona (Scotland)

Advantages: Bill Antonio (KV Mechelen), Ishmael Wadi (CAPS United), Tawanda Maswanhise (Motherwell), Daniel Msendami (Marumo Gallants), Prince Dube (Young Africans), Washington Navaya (TelOne FC), Macauley Bonne (Maldon & Tiptree), Junior Zindoga (TS Galaxy), Tadiwanashe Chakuchichi (Scotland).

CAN 2025 schedule, full schedule of the African Cup of Nations

Sunday December 21, 2025

• Group A: Morocco 2-0 Comoros (Rabat)

Monday December 22, 2025

• Group A: Mali 1-1 Zambia (Casablanca)
• Group B: South Africa 2-1 Angola (Marrakech)
• Group B: Egypt 2-1 Zimbabwe (Agadir)

Tuesday December 23, 2025

• Group D: Senegal 3-0 Botswana (Tangie)
• Group D: DR Congo 1-0 Benin (Rabat)
• Group C: Nigeria 2-1 Tanzania (Fez)
• Group C: Tunisia 3-1 Uganda (Rabat)

Wednesday December 24, 2025

• Group E: Burkina Faso 2-1 Equatorial Guinea (Casablanca)
• Group E: Algeria 3-0 Sudan (Rabat)
• Group F: Ivory Coast 1-0 Mozambique (Marrakech)
• Group F: Cameroon 1-0 Gabon (Agadir)

Friday December 26, 2025

• Group B: Angola – Zimbabwe (Marrakech, 12:30 p.m.)
• Group B: Egypt – South Africa (Agadir, 3:00 p.m.)
• Group A: Zambia – Comoros (Casablanca, 5:30 p.m.)
• Group A: Morocco – Mali (Rabat, 8:00 p.m.)

Saturday December 27, 2025

• Group D: Benin – Botswana (Rabat, 12:30 p.m.)
• Group D: Senegal – DR Congo (Tangier, 3:00 p.m.)
• Group C: Uganda – Tanzania (Rabat 3, 5:30 p.m.)
• Group C: Nigeria – Tunisia (Fez, 8:00 p.m.)

Sunday December 28, 2025

• Group F: Gabon vs Mozambique (Agadir, 12:30)
• Group E: Equatorial Guinea – Sudan (Casablanca, 3:00 p.m.)
• Group E: Algeria – Burkina Faso (Rabat, 5:30 p.m.)
• Group F: Ivory Coast – Cameroon, (Marrakech, 8:00 p.m.)

Monday December 29, 2025

• Group B: Angola – Egypt (Agadir, 4:00 p.m.)
• Group B: Zimbabwe – South Africa (Marrakech, 4:00 p.m.)
• Group A: Comoros – Mali (Casablanca, 7:00 p.m.)
• Group A: Zambia – Morocco (Rabat, 7:00 p.m.)

Tuesday December 30, 2025

• Group C: Tanzania – Tunisia (Rabat, 4:00 p.m.)
• Group C: Uganda – Nigeria (Fez, 4:00 p.m.)
• Group D: Benin – Senegal (Tangier, 7:00 p.m.)
• Group D: Botswana – DR Congo (Rabat, 7:00 p.m.)

Wednesday December 31, 2025

• Group E: Equatorial Guinea – Algeria (Rabat, 4:00 p.m.)
• Group E: Sudan – Burkina Faso (Casablanca, 4:00 p.m.)
• Group F: Gabon – Ivory Coast (Marrakech, 7:00 p.m.)
• Group F: Mozambique vs Cameroon (Agadir, 7:00 p.m.)

2025 African Cup of Nations, round of 16

Saturday January 3, 2026

• SR1: winner of Group D vs third in Group B/E/F (Tangier, 4:00 p.m.)
• SR2: Group A finalists vs Group C finalists (Casablanca, 7:00 p.m.)

Sunday January 4

• SR3: Winner of Group A vs third in Group C/D/E (Rabat, 4:00 p.m.)
• SR4: Vice-champion of Group B vs Vice-champion of Group F (Rabat, 7:00 p.m.)

Monday January 5

• SR5: winner of group B vs third of group A/C/D (Agadir, 6 p.m.)
• SR6: winners of Group C vs thirds of Groups A/B/F (Fez, 8:30 p.m.)

Tuesday January 6

• SR7: Winners of Group E vs finalists of Group D (Rabat 2, 6 p.m.)
• SR8: winners of Group F vs vice-champions of Group E (Marrakech, 8:30 p.m.)

Quarter-finals of the 2025 African Cup of Nations

Friday January 9

• QF1: Winner SR2 vs Winner SR1 (Tangier, 4:00 p.m.)
• QF2: Winner SR4 vs Winner SR3 (Rabat, 7:00 p.m.)

Saturday January 10

• QF3: Winner SR7 vs Winner SR6 (Marrakech, 4:00 p.m.)
• QF4: Winner SR5 vs Winner SR8 (Agadir, 7:00 p.m.)

2025 African Cup of Nations semi-finals

Wednesday January 14

• SF1: Winner QF1 vs Winner QF4 (Tangier, 5:00 p.m.)
• SF2: Winner QF3 vs Winner QF2 (Rabat, 8:00 p.m.)

2025 Africa Cup of Nations third place match

Saturday January 17

• SF1 vs SF2 losers (Casablanca, 4:00 p.m.)

2025 African Cup of Nations Final

Sunday January 18

• Winners SF1 vs SF2 (Rabat, 7:00 p.m.)