By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
AFCON 2025: Salah shines as draws dominate Friday games, Saturday fixtures line up
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations continued on Friday with tightly contested matches across Groups A and B, as teams battled for early control in the group stages.
In Group B, Egypt secured a narrow but vital 1-0 victory over South Africa. Liverpool star Mohamed Salah proved the difference, scoring the lone goal that handed the Pharaohs all three points and strengthened their push for qualification.
The second Group B encounter ended without a winner, as Angola and Zimbabwe settled for a 1-1 draw. The result left both sides rooted in the lower half of the group standings, with work still to be done in their remaining fixtures.
Group A produced similar outcomes, with hosts Morocco held to a 1-1 draw by Mali. Brahim Diaz put the Moroccans ahead before Lassine Sinayoko struck back to earn Mali a share of the spoils in a tense contest.
Elsewhere in the same group, Zambia and Comoros played out a goalless draw, a result that kept both teams in third and fourth positions on the table.
Attention now shifts to Saturday’s round of matches as the tournament gathers momentum. Benin Republic will face Botswana in the early afternoon kick-off, before a heavyweight clash later in the day between Senegal and DR Congo.
Uganda are also set to battle Tanzania, while Nigeria will wrap up the day with a Group C showdown against Tunisia under the lights at the Fez Stadium in Fes.
With group standings still finely balanced, Saturday’s fixtures are expected to play a key role in shaping the race for the knockout rounds.
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