Zimbabwe vs South Africa Prediction & Betting Tips (29 December)

Despite its only point taken after two days, Zimbabwe is a good surprise at the start of CAN Long ahead on the scoreboard when it entered the fray against Egypt, Zimbabwe was finally overthrown and lost with honors 2-1. Not favorites against Angola on Friday for their 2nd match, the Warriors signed a good draw after a good 1-1 performance. Never qualified for the 1/8 finals of a CAN, Zimbabwe will not see the American World Cup next summer, since it finished last in its qualifying group behind South Africa, Nigeria, Benin, Lesotho and Rwanda. In November, the small selection played 2 friendly matches, logically losing against Algeria 3-1 but winning against a good selection of Qatar 1-2. South Africa got off to a good start in its CAN by defeating Angola 2-1 with a goal scored at the end of the match.

The Bafana Bafana are regaining their splendor, they who will return to the World Cup next summer, a first since the 2010 World Cup which it organized. Hugo Broos' men actually finished 1st in their qualifying group, ahead of Nigeria, Benin, Lesotho, Rwanda and Zimbabwe. During its preparation, South Africa continued to build confidence by winning against Zambia in a friendly match 3-1 in November and then against Ghana B 1-0 a few days before the start of the tournament. 

The head‑to‑head narrative between these two sides adds another layer of intrigue. Zimbabwe and South Africa have met multiple times in recent years, including a 0–0 draw in their October World Cup qualifierESPN and several South African victories in earlier encounters. These meetings have often been cagey, physical, and tactically conservative, with both teams showing a tendency to neutralize each other rather than take excessive risks. Over the past two months, analysts have noted that Zimbabwe’s defensive approach has become more compact, while South Africa have leaned into a possession‑oriented style that prioritizes patience over directness. This contrast in approach has shaped expectations for their upcoming AFCON clash, especially given the stakes of the group stage and the familiarity between the squads.

With both teams entering the match on the back of contrasting form but a shared history of low‑scoring encounters, the tactical landscape points toward another tight contest. Zimbabwe’s recent inability to convert chances, combined with South Africa’s disciplined defensive record in the past two months, reinforces the likelihood of a cautious, risk‑averse match. Given the patterns in their latest fixtures and the statistical trends highlighted in recent coverage, the most reasonable projection for this AFCON meeting is a 0 : 0 correct score, a result that aligns with both teams’ recent performances and their historical head‑to‑head outcomes.

• Summary: Zimbabwe is going head to head with South Africa starting on 29 Dec 2025 at 16:00 UTC at Grand Stade de Marrakech stadium, Marrakech city, Morocco. The match is a part of the Africa Cup of Nations, Group B .
• Zimbabwe Feedinco Rating: 6.64
• South Africa Feedinco Rating: 6.77