South Africa Secures Dramatic Win Over Zimbabwe to Advance in 2025 Afcon
South Africa Secures Dramatic Win Over Zimbabwe to Advance in 2025 Afcon
South Africa booked their spot in the knockout stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Zimbabwe in Marrakech. Oswin Appollis’ late penalty sealed the win for Bafana Bafana, helping them finish second in Group B behind Egypt. Zimbabwe were eliminated in fourth place.
Early Sparks and Brilliant Goals
The match started explosively, with South Africa taking the lead just seven minutes in. Tshepang Moremi’s shot deflected off Divine Lunga, looping past goalkeeper Washington Arubi to give Bafana Bafana the early advantage.
Zimbabwe responded with flair as Tawanda Maswanhise weaved through the defence to fire a stunning strike into the bottom corner, marking one of the standout goals of the tournament.
Second-Half Intensity
South Africa regained the lead in the 50th minute when Burnley striker Lyle Foster capitalized on a back-header, outpacing Arubi to nod in his second goal of the group stage.
Zimbabwe’s resilience shone through with a triple substitution that injected urgency into their attack. Their persistence paid off when goalkeeper Ronwen Williams’s save ricocheted off Aubrey Modiba and into the net.
The decisive moment came when Oswin Appollis converted a penalty after Warriors captain Marvelous Nakamba was penalized for handball following a VAR review.
Key Players and Tactical Insights
South Africa’s victory was built on efficiency rather than dominance, capitalizing on defensive lapses and set-piece opportunities. Hugo Broos’ team bounced back from a 1-0 defeat to Egypt and a narrow 2-1 win over Angola in their opener.
Midfielders Sipho Mbule and Teboho Mokoena controlled the pace, while the forwards remained direct and dangerous. Tawanda Maswanhise impressed with his speed and dribbling, Nakamba anchored midfield with intensity, and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams delivered calm, composed leadership.
Player |
Rank |
Key Contribution |
|---|---|---|
Tawanda Maswanhise |
Move FD |
Pace, dribbling, scored stunning goal |
Marvelous Nakamba |
Mid FD |
Anchored midfield, aggressive tackling |
Ronwen Williams |
Goal KP |
Composed leadership, crucial saves |
Lyle Foster |
Move FD |
Scored 2 goals, capitalized on defensive errors |
Oswin Appollis |
Mid FD |
Converted decisive penalty |
Goal Timeline
- 07’ – Tshepang Moremi (South Africa) opens scoring with deflected shot.
- ??’ – Tawanda Maswanhise (Zimbabwe) equalizes with brilliant solo goal.
- 50’ – Lyle Foster (South Africa) scores header to regain lead.
- ??’ – Zimbabwe scores via Williams’ save deflection.
- Late penalty – Oswin Appollis (South Africa) seals 3-2 win.
Looking Ahead
South Africa advances to face the runners-up from Group F—either Ivory Coast, Cameroon, or Mozambique—in Rabat on Sunday at 19:00 GMT. Zimbabwe remain without progression from the group stage in all six Afcon appearances.
The team’s resilience in overcoming setbacks and capitalizing on key moments highlights their potential to improve on their third-place finish from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
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