Several Africa Cup of Nations contenders step up their final preparations on Tuesday as South Africa, DR Congo, Egypt and Nigeria all feature in high-profile international friendlies across the continent.
Bafana Bafana host Ghana at Dobsonville Stadium in their final outing before departing for Morocco, where AFCON 2025 kicks off on Sunday. Hugo Broos’ side head into the clash as strong favourites, helped by the continuity of a largely locally based squad that has been in camp throughout the week.
With several European-based players travelling directly to Morocco, Broos is expected to rely heavily on a core of Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates players. Ghana, by contrast, arrive in Soweto with an entirely uncapped squad under interim coach Kassim Mingle, underlining the gulf in preparation between the two sides.
AFRICA PICKS: AFCON warm-ups – Tuesday’s top bets
Elsewhere, DR Congo welcome Zambia in a friendly that offers a sharper competitive edge. The Leopards have been one of Africa’s most consistent performers over the past year, winning seven of their last 10 competitive matches and conceding fewer than a goal per game. Zambia’s recent form has been more uneven, particularly away from home, making this a valuable test of depth and discipline.
The standout fixture of the night comes in Cairo, where Egypt face Nigeria in a heavyweight rehearsal between two AFCON contenders. Both sides are still integrating late arrivals, but the presence of key figures on both sides adds intrigue to a fixture that traditionally produces tight, tactical contests.
With AFCON now days away, these friendlies are less about spectacle and more about rhythm, structure and avoiding injuries. For several sides, Tuesday’s matches will provide the clearest indication yet of readiness for Africa’s biggest stage.
Photo: Dirk Kotze/Gallo Images
