MARRAKESH, Morocco — The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) intensified on Boxing Day as two Southern African neighbors, Angola and Zimbabwe, locked horns at the Marrakesh Stadium in a high-stakes Group B encounter. With both teams suffering narrow 2-1 defeats in their opening fixtures, the “COSAFA Derby” in North Africa was transformed into a desperate fight for survival, as a second consecutive loss would leave either side on the brink of an early exit.
Under the bright lights of Marrakesh, the atmosphere was electric, reflecting the weight of expectations from Luanda to Harare. For Angola’s Palancas Negras and Zimbabwe’s Warriors, this was more than just a regional rivalry; it was a defining moment in their Moroccan campaign.
The Road to Marrakesh: A Recap of Opening Day Heartbreak
Both nations entered Matchday 2 with a sense of “what if.” On December 22, Zimbabwe had threatened to pull off the shock of the tournament against seven-time champions Egypt. Prince Dube had silenced the Egyptian faithful with a clinical 20th-minute strike, only for Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush to equalise after the break. The heartbreak was compounded in stoppage time when Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah drilled home a winner, leaving the Warriors empty-handed despite a heroic defensive display led by veteran goalkeeper Washington Arubi.
Angola shared a similar fate. They managed to pull level with South Africa through a goal from midfield anchor Show, but were ultimately undone by a moment of brilliance from Burnley forward Lyle Foster in the 79th minute.
“We made mistakes, and at this level, mistakes are punished immediately,” admitted Angola head coach Patrice Beaumelle ahead of kick-off. “We must keep our heads up because the tournament is far from over.”
Tactical Setups: Experience vs. Energy
The starting line-ups revealed two managers unwilling to take a step back. Zimbabwe head coach Mario Marinica kept faith in the experienced core that nearly frustrated Egypt. Arubi remained between the sticks, protected by the defensive solidity of Teenage Hadebe and Gerald Takwara, while the midfield was anchored by the tireless Marvelous Nakamba.
Angola, meanwhile, made tactical adjustments to bolster their creativity. The inclusion of Nottingham Forest’s David Carmo provided a commanding presence at the back, while Manuel Benson and M’Bala Nzola were tasked with providing the clinical edge that was missing against Bafana Bafana.
| Angola Starting XI | Zimbabwe Starting XI |
| H. Marques (GK) | W. Arubi (GK) |
| C. Mata, J. Buatu, D. Carmo, To Carneiro | G. Takwara, M. Nakamba, T. Hadebe, E. Jalai |
| B. Mukendi, Show, M. Benson, Fredy | P. Dube, J. Fabisch, B. Antonio, D. Lunga |
| G. Dala, M. Nzola | M. Bonne, K. Musona |
A Pivotal Moment in Group B
As the match got underway at 14h30 local time, the stakes were clear. A victory for either side would significantly boost their chances of being among the four best third-placed teams to advance to the knockout rounds, should they fail to secure a top-two spot.
The early exchanges were frantic, with Zimbabwe’s Prince Dube testing Hugo Marques early on, while Angola’s Gelson Dala looked a constant threat on the counter-attack. The tactical battle in midfield—pitting the physicality of Nakamba against the vision of Fredy—became the focal point of a cagey first half.