Group B of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations moved to boiling point on Matchday 2 as drama, controversy and high-stakes football unfolded across two intense encounters in Morocco, leaving Egypt safely through to the Round of 16 while the rest of the group braces for a nerve-shredding final day.

The day began at the Marrakech Stadium with Angola and Zimbabwe trading blows in a contest that never allowed the tempo to drop. Angola struck first midway through the opening half when Gelson Dala finished powerfully from the right side of the area after a well-weighted delivery, capitalizing on a spell where the Palancas Negras were firmly on top. Zimbabwe, however, refused to fade and gradually wrestled control, with Knowledge Musona growing into the game and pulling the strings between midfield and attack.

Their persistence was rewarded deep into first-half stoppage time when Musona led a swift counter-attack, surged into the box and fired beyond Hugo Marques to restore parity. The 1-1 scoreline at the break reflected a half of shifting momentum, with both sides creating chances and goalkeepers Arubi and Marques forced into sharp interventions.

The second half followed a similar pattern, end-to-end and fiercely contested, with yellow cards punctuating the intensity. Angola introduced fresh legs in search of renewed control, while Zimbabwe looked increasingly confident on transitions. Despite several promising moments, including headers narrowly off target and long-range efforts that tested both keepers, neither side found a decisive breakthrough. The final whistle confirmed a draw that kept both teams alive but far from comfortable heading into the decisive final group fixture.

Attention then shifted to Agadir, where Egypt and South Africa delivered one of the tournament’s most emotionally charged matches. The Pharaohs entered knowing victory would secure early qualification, while Bafana Bafana were chasing a result that would blow Group B wide open.

The first half was tight, physical and tactical, with both teams probing without finding a breakthrough until late drama erupted. After sustained Egyptian pressure, VAR intervened to review a challenge inside the box, and Mohamed Salah stepped up just before halftime to convert from the spot, giving Egypt a crucial 1-0 lead. Matters worsened for the hosts moments later when Mohamed Hany received a second yellow card, forcing Egypt to play the entire second half with ten men.

Rather than retreat, Egypt showed resilience, while South Africa sensed opportunity and poured forward relentlessly. Chance after chance fell Bafana Bafana’s way, with crosses flashing across goal, headers sailing narrowly wide and long-range strikes forcing desperate defensive blocks. Egypt absorbed pressure, relying on discipline, compact shape and occasional Salah-led counterattacks to survive.

The defining moment arrived in the 91st minute when South Africa believed they had earned a lifeline. A challenge inside the Egyptian box initially saw the referee point to the spot, sparking celebrations from the visitors. However, after a lengthy VAR review, the decision was overturned, denying Bafana Bafana a penalty that could have rewritten the group standings. The call crushed South African momentum and sealed Egypt’s escape in one of the tournament’s most dramatic officiating moments so far.

Egypt held on through an extended stoppage time to claim a hard-fought 1-0 victory, a result that confirmed the Pharaohs as the first team to qualify for the AFCON 2025 Round of 16. With six points from two matches, Egypt moved beyond reach at the top of Group B.

One match remains, but Group B has already delivered tension, controversy and late drama worthy of the Africa Cup of Nations stage.