Egypt vs South Africa – Head-to-Head Record and Stats

The rivalry between Egypt and South Africa has produced some memorable moments in African football, with matches spanning nearly three decades across various competitions. Both nations, established powers in African football, have clashed in friendly matches, continental tournaments, and championship fixtures, creating a competitive head-to-head record that continues to evolve.

Recent encounters have added new chapters to this footballing rivalry. The most recent official meeting occurred in February 2025 during the African Nations Championship, where the two sides played out a 1-1 draw. Earlier competitions, particularly the Africa Cup of Nations, have seen tight contests with low-scoring outcomes dominating the historical record.

This comprehensive analysis examines the complete head-to-head record between these two nations, including historical match data, key statistics, and a detailed breakdown of results across different competitions and time periods.

Who Won Egypt vs South Africa and What Was the Final Score?

The most recent official encounter between Egypt and South Africa ended in a 1-1 draw. This match took place on February 28, 2025, during the African Nations Championship. Neither team managed to secure a winning goal in that fixture, resulting in a share of the points.

Across their complete history, sources report varying totals due to differences in which competitions and time periods are included. The most comprehensive records indicate that South Africa holds a slight edge in the overall head-to-head record, though the margins remain competitive across all meetings.

Quick Reference: Recent Match Facts

Key Insights from Recent Encounters

• Low-scoring matches have characterized recent fixtures between these nations
• South Africa has shown strong defensive form, conceding just 0.2 goals per match in their last five meetings with Egypt
• Egypt has struggled to find the net consistently against South Africa, averaging 0.4 goals per game in recent head-to-head clashes
• The rivalry has produced mostly tight 1-0 and 2-1 results across different competition types
• Neither team has dominated the fixture in recent years, with results distributed across wins, losses, and draws
• Mohamed Salah has emerged as a key figure for Egypt in matches against South Africa, scoring decisive goals

Head-to-Head Statistics Snapshot

Egypt vs South Africa Head to Head Record

The complete head-to-head record between Egypt and South Africa spans nearly thirty years of football encounters. According to comprehensive data from multiple sources, these two nations have met on approximately 12-15 occasions depending on which matches are included in the calculation.

The discrepancy in total match counts arises from differing approaches to which competitions count toward the official record. Some sources include only official tournament matches and World Cup qualifiers, while others incorporate friendly internationals played outside formal competition windows.

Complete Historical Match Record

The earliest recorded encounter between these two nations took place during the Simba Cup in November 1995, with South Africa claiming a 2-0 victory. Since then, the matches have been distributed across various prestigious competitions including the Africa Cup of Nations, the African Nations Championship, and numerous friendly internationals.

A detailed review of available records shows the following key matches across different competitions and years, providing a comprehensive view of how this rivalry has developed over time.

AFCON-Specific Encounters

Within Africa Cup of Nations tournaments specifically, Egypt and South Africa have met on six documented occasions. The record in these prestigious continental championship matches shows South Africa with four victories, Egypt with two wins, and two matches ending in draws.

The AFCON encounters have produced some particularly memorable moments, including Egypt’s 1-0 victory in the 1996 tournament and South Africa’s 1-0 win in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Round of 16. These knockout-stage matches have often proven decisive in determining tournament advancement for both nations.

Egypt’s victory in the 1998 AFCON group stage saw them defeat South Africa 2-0, while South Africa returned the favor in 2011 with a 1-0 group stage win. A 0-0 draw in June 2011 rounded out their group stage meetings that tournament year.

Form Guide and Recent Performance

Analyzing recent form across the last five matches for each team provides insight into current competitive standing. Egypt’s recent record shows one victory, three draws, and one defeat, with the team scoring an average of 1.2 goals per match while conceding 0.6.

South Africa’s more recent form indicates two wins, one draw, and two losses in their last five matches against Egypt, though notably the team has shown impressive defensive solidity, conceding just 0.2 goals per match in these encounters. Their attacking output has averaged 2.0 goals per game, suggesting a blend of defensive resilience with capable goal-scoring ability.

When and Where Was the Egypt vs South Africa Match?

The most recent official meeting between Egypt and South Africa occurred on February 28, 2025, during the African Nations Championship. This competition, often abbreviated as CHAN, specifically features players who compete in their domestic leagues rather than those playing abroad, making it a distinct tournament from the standard Africa Cup of Nations.

The venue for this match was not specified in available records. African Nations Championship tournaments are typically hosted by a single nation, with matches played across multiple stadiums in different cities. The 2025 edition would have followed the established tournament format with group stage matches preceding knockout rounds.

Key Dates in the Rivalry

The rivalry began with South Africa’s 2-0 victory over Egypt in the Simba Cup on November 24, 1995. This early encounter established a pattern that would continue throughout subsequent meetings, with matches often separated by significant intervals rather than occurring in rapid succession.

The Africa Cup of Nations has provided several fixed dates for these encounters. The 1996 AFCON saw a January 24 meeting, while the 1998 tournament featured a February 28 match. The 2011 AFCON produced two encounters within the same competition, with matches on March 26 and June 5 of that year.

The 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Round of 16 match between these nations took place on July 6, marking one of the most recent high-profile encounters in the rivalry. That competition, hosted by Egypt, saw South Africa advance with a 1-0 victory in a tightly contested knockout match.

Match Venues and Competition Context

Matches between these two nations have been played across various venues, including neutral tournament locations during AFCON and African Nations Championship events. When playing friendly internationals, matches have been hosted alternately by each nation or at neutral venues depending on scheduling arrangements.

The 2019 AFCON matches were played in Egypt, which served as the tournament host. The Simba Cup matches took place in South Africa in 1995, while friendly matches over the years have occurred in both nations depending on bilateral agreement between football federations.

Egypt vs South Africa Key Stats and Highlights

Statistical analysis of encounters between Egypt and South Africa reveals consistent patterns throughout their footballing rivalry. Low-scoring affairs have dominated the fixture history, with 1-0 and 2-1 results appearing frequently across different competition types and time periods.

The aggregate scoring record shows South Africa with a modest advantage, having scored 15 goals compared to Egypt’s 11 across all documented meetings. This four-goal differential reflects South Africa’s slightly superior attacking efficiency in these specific matchups, though the gap remains narrow enough to indicate genuine competitive balance.

Notable Match Highlights

Several matches stand out as particularly significant in the history of this rivalry. The 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Round of 16 victory for South Africa proved crucial, as they eliminated the host nation from the tournament with a single goal victory. That match showcased South Africa’s ability to compete against one of Africa’s traditional footballing powerhouses on the biggest continental stage.

Egypt’s 2-0 victory over South Africa during the 1998 Africa Cup of Nations represented one of their most commanding wins in this fixture, though such high-scoring results have been relatively rare between these sides. The preference for low-scoring, tactical encounters has characterized most of their meetings.

Mohamed Salah has emerged as a particularly influential figure in Egypt’s performances against South Africa. Sources indicate he has scored decisive goals in AFCON matches, including a crucial strike that helped 10-man Egypt advance past South Africa in a group stage encounter. His contribution has been significant given the generally tight nature of results in this rivalry.

Defensive and Attacking Metrics

Recent statistical analysis highlights South Africa’s particularly strong defensive record in these fixtures. With an average of just 0.2 goals conceded per match in their last five encounters against Egypt, the South African defense has demonstrated exceptional organization and discipline.

Egypt’s attacking output against South Africa has been modest, averaging 0.4 goals per game in recent head-to-head matches. This statistic reflects the difficulty Egypt has experienced in breaking down South Africa’s defensive structure, rather than any fundamental weakness in Egypt’s overall attacking capabilities.

Asian Handicap Performance

Betting market data from AiScore indicates Egypt has covered the Asian Handicap in 33.3% to 40% of recent matches, while South Africa has achieved an 80% win rate against the handicap in recent form. These figures suggest South Africa has frequently outperformed market expectations in this fixture, often winning by margins that exceeded pre-match predictions.

Timeline of Key Encounters

The rivalry between Egypt and South Africa has evolved across nearly three decades, with key matches scattered throughout this period rather than concentrated in any single era. Understanding the chronological progression of these encounters helps contextualize the development of this footballing rivalry.

1. November 1995: South Africa defeats Egypt 2-0 in the Simba Cup, marking the first documented encounter between the nations
2. January 1996: Egypt wins 1-0 against South Africa during the Africa Cup of Nations group stage
3. February 1998: Egypt records a 2-0 victory over South Africa at AFCON, demonstrating early dominance in tournament matches
4. March 2011: South Africa wins 1-0 against Egypt at AFCON, with this match forming part of a competitive group stage
5. June 2011: Egypt and South Africa draw 0-0 in their second AFCON meeting of that tournament year
6. July 2019: South Africa eliminates host nation Egypt with a 1-0 victory in the AFCON Round of 16
7. February 2025: The teams play to a 1-1 draw in the African Nations Championship, their most recent encounter

The timeline reveals periods of intense rivalry followed by gaps in scheduling. The 1990s featured several encounters in quick succession, while subsequent years saw matches spaced further apart, often organized around continental tournament qualifications and bilateral friendly arrangements.

What Is Known and What Remains Unclear

While substantial information exists about the Egypt versus South Africa rivalry, certain aspects of the fixture history remain subject to interpretation or lack complete documentation. Establishing clear boundaries between confirmed facts and areas of uncertainty helps ensure accurate reporting of this football rivalry.

The discrepancies between sources likely reflect different methodologies in record-keeping rather than actual factual contradictions. Some databases emphasize official tournament matches exclusively, while others incorporate friendly internationals of varying recognition levels. Cross-referencing multiple reliable sources provides the most accurate overall picture.

Understanding the Significance of This Rivalry

The encounters between Egypt and South Africa represent a significant rivalry within African football, bringing together two nations with strong footballing traditions and passionate supporter bases. Egypt, with its seven Africa Cup of Nations titles, stands as one of Africa’s most successful football nations, while South Africa has established itself as a competitive force since readmission to international football in the early 1990s.

Matches between these nations carry particular weight during continental tournament qualification and knockout stages. The 2019 Africa Cup of Nations encounter, where South Africa eliminated the host nation, demonstrated the competitive nature of this fixture and its potential to influence tournament outcomes significantly.

The rivalry reflects broader patterns in African football, where regional powers and emerging nations compete for continental supremacy. Both teams have demonstrated the ability to defeat each other under different circumstances, suggesting this fixture will continue producing competitive encounters in future competitions.

Official Sources and Documentation

Comprehensive head-to-head data for this rivalry has been compiled from multiple football statistics providers, with varying approaches to match inclusion. The most detailed records come from dedicated football databases that track international matches across all competition types.

Key sources for this analysis include WorldFootball.net, which documents comprehensive match reports and head-to-head records; 11v11.com, which provides detailed international fixture data since 1995; and AiScore, which offers recent form statistics and betting market indicators.

The complete historical record between Egypt and South Africa spans nearly three decades, with South Africa holding a narrow advantage in overall wins and goals scored across all documented encounters.

For the most current information on upcoming fixtures and recent results, consulting official Confederation of African Football announcements and national football federation websites provides the most reliable data. Tournament-specific records, including AFCON and African Nations Championship results, are maintained by CAF and updated following each competition cycle.

Summary and Looking Ahead

The footballing rivalry between Egypt and South Africa represents one of African football’s more competitive matchups, with nearly thirty years of documented encounters producing closely contested results. South Africa holds a marginal advantage in overall wins and goals scored, though Egypt has proven capable of victories in crucial tournament circumstances.

Recent form suggests continued competitive balance between the nations, with South Africa demonstrating particular defensive solidity and Egypt relying on individual quality from players like Mohamed Salah to secure positive results. The most recent meeting in February 2025 ended in a draw, exemplifying the closely contested nature of this fixture.

For followers of both nations, upcoming continental competitions will likely provide opportunities for additional chapter in this developing rivalry. As both teams continue to qualify for and compete in Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, future encounters seem probable.

Those interested in broader African football analysis can explore related content on continental tournament coverage, including Coupe d’Afrique des Nations de Football 2025 – Dates, Teams, Results, which provides additional context for understanding where these encounters fit within the wider African football landscape.

Frequently Asked Questions