Assessment, results, objectives of CAN 2025

Angola and Zimbabwe secured their first points at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) but will need to spring a surprise in their final group stage matches after an entertaining draw on Friday in Marrakech.

Palancas Negras striker Gelson Dala scored the opener in the 24th minute thanks to a deft shot from To Carneiro, but 35-year-old Warriors icon Knowledge Musona brought down Bill Antonio’s pass with exquisite precision before applying a finish to match the equalizer during first-half injury time.

Angola lost their opener 2-1 to South Africa and Zimbabwe were beaten by the same scoreline after leading against Egypt, meaning both teams need a positive result as considerable underdogs in four days’ time.

He was everywhere today. Fredy is your TotalEnergies man of the match against Zimbabwe. 🌟🇦🇴#TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 | @Football2Gether pic.twitter.com/DAanM8bKhn

– CAN TotalEnergies 2025 (@CAF_Online) December 26, 2025

Angola 1-1 Zimbabwe: Dala and Musona strike

These teams made an encouraging start to the campaign despite their defeats, with Angola losing only to a goal from Liverpool striker Mo Salah in the 91st minute after Burnley’s Lyle Foster scored a late winner to condemn Zimbabwe to defeat.

Either Egypt or South Africa will advance with one match to play if either wins their final match in Group B in Agadir on Friday (3:00 p.m. GMT / 10:00 a.m. ET / 7:00 a.m. PT).

The section’s four teams complete their opening match on Monday (4:00 p.m. GMT / 11:00 a.m. ET / 8:00 a.m. PT), when Angola will face Egypt in Agadir and Zimbabwe will be in Marrakech to face South Africa.

Angola team against Zimbabwe

The three changes made by Angola included the introduction Nottingham Forest central defender David Carmo, loaned to Oviedo.

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

Kialonda Gaspar, Maestro and Zito Luvumbo gave up their places. 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 team against Angola

Experienced striker Knowledge Musona started for Zimbabwe, who were without Walter Musona, who scored twice in qualifying.

Defender Divine Lunga, winger Bill Antonio and striker Macauley Bonne, from English eighth division side Maldon & Tiptree, were also new faces in their squad.

God knows Murwira, Munashe Garan’anga, Daniel Msendami and Washington Navaya have joined 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

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Angola vs Zimbabwe Statistics

• The three times Angola lost their first match (1996, 2006 and 2025), they drew the next match.
• They never lost their first match and qualified for the round of 16.
• In 10 matches in the second group of the CAN, Angola has won three (2008 against Senegal, 2010 against Mali, 2023 against Mauritania), drawn five and lost two (both against South Africa, in 1996 and 2013).
• Three of Angola’s last seven goals at the AFCON have been scored from free kicks, all assisted by Fredy.
• Zimbabwe have never won in their first two finals matches, with all four wins coming in their final group match.
• His overall record in CAN is 3 wins, 3 draws and 11 defeats.
• None of their matches in the final ended 0-0 and they never recorded a clean sheet.
• This was their second match against a southern African team at the AFCON; the first was a 2–1 defeat against Malawi in their second group match of 2021
• A run of goals in each of their last four matches is the longest run of successive goals in CAN in their history.
• In six CAN appearances, they have lost their second group matches four times (2004, 2006, 2017, 2021) and drawn twice (2019, 2025).

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.)