South Africa’s Bafana Bafana kicked off their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign on a high note, securing a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Angola at the Grand Stade de Marrakech on Monday night.
Late heroics from Lyle Foster ensured Hugo Broos’s side walked away with all three points, placing them in a strong position early in Group B.
The match began with high energy from the South African side. Oswin Appollis broke the deadlock in the 21st minute with a moment of individual brilliance, slotting the ball past Angolan keeper Hugo Marques to give Bafana an early lead.
However, Angola refused to be clinical spectators. They fought back and found an equalizer in the 35th minute through Show Cafumana, sending the teams into the tunnel level at 1-1.
The second half saw a tactical shift from Hugo Broos, who introduced Tshepang Moremi at the restart. The substitute immediately injected pace into the attack and even found the back of the net in the 51st minute, though the goal was ultimately overturned by VAR for offside.
The breakthrough finally came in the 79th minute when Lyle Foster proved his class, calmly beating Marques to restore the lead and seal the win.
Speaking after the match, head coach Hugo Broos expressed satisfaction with his team’s resilience and tactical discipline.
“We got some things right during half-time,” Broos said. “I think Moremi also gave us good service. He was quick and a threat for the Angola defense. We were more aggressive and put more pressure on the opponent.”
The win puts South Africa level at the top of Group B alongside Egypt, who also secured a 2-1 victory over Zimbabwe on Monday evening.
Upcoming Fixture:
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Match: Bafana Bafana vs. Egypt
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Date: Friday, 26 December 2025
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Time: 17:00 (SA Time)
This Boxing Day clash is already being hailed as a potential group decider, as both giants look to secure early qualification for the knockout stages.
