South Africa got their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign off to a winning start by defeating Angola 2-1 in a Group B match at the Marrakesh Stadium on Monday evening.
Bafana Bafana opened the scoring through Oswin Appollis, but were outplayed by the Palancas Negras in the first half, with the men in red and black levelling the game via Show.
However, Hugo Broos’s side stepped up their performance after the restart and ultimately secured a deserved triumph via a superb strike from Lyle Foster with just over 10 minutes of regulation time to play.
Three points ✅🇿🇦
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) December 22, 2025
Bafana Bafana are up and running in Group B 🙌#SSFootball | #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 pic.twitter.com/4ON9a79mLU
The teams exchanged early chances, with the best falling to Angola’s Fredy, who had a 15th minute volley from the edge of the penalty area which required a sharp save from South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.
Bafana Bafana then claimed the lead just before the midway point of the first half.
A cross from Khuliso Mudau ended up at the feet of Oswin Appollis, who worked a sliver of space just inside the penalty area before driving a low shot into the bottom corner of the net for 1-0.
Delivers for club and country 🤌🇿🇦
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) December 22, 2025
Oswin Appollis gives Bafana Bafana the lead in their #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 opener ⚽
📺 Stream on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc@10bet_ZA pic.twitter.com/P148uj7kRC
Angola looked for a reply and nearly levelled the game on 29 minutes through Gelson Dala, who powered a header on target from a corner kick, but his effort was straight at Williams, allowing the ‘keeper to scramble the ball away.
Six minutes later the Palancas Negras deservedly drew level at 1-1, with Fredy’s free kick flicked home by Show, whose intelligent effort from the outside of his boot had the beating of Williams at the ‘keeper’s near post.
Angola had been the stronger team through the course of the first half, but South Africa started the second strongly and believed they had reclaimed the lead on 51 minutes when substitute Tshepang Moremi found the back of the net with a superb low drive.
Taking Ke Dezemba to Morocco 😏🇿🇦
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) December 22, 2025
📺 Stream #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc pic.twitter.com/BAWosHXeGc
However, a VAR review rescinded the goal as Lyle Foster was in an offside position in the build-up.
Bafana Bafana were inches away from a spectacular second goal in the 58th minute, as defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi let fly from long range and rattled the crossbar.
South Africa’s second-half performance deserved a goal, and it duly arrived in the 79th minute, with Lyle Foster curling home a superb strike from the ‘D’ of the box after a quick passing move from the men in yellow and green.
Lyle Foster 🤯
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) December 22, 2025
He picks out the top corner with a stunner ⚽🎯
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Foster’s outstanding goal proved to be decisive, with Angola unable to build up any significant pressure in search of an equaliser in the remainder of the match.
The teams will be back in action on Friday 26 December, with Angola facing Zimbabwe, while South Africa will cross swords with Egypt.
South Africa (1) 2 (Appollis 21’, Foster 79’)
Angola (1) 1 (Show 35’)
South Africa: R. Williams, K. Mudau, S. Ngezana. M. Mbokazi, A. Modiba, T. Mokoena, S. Sithole, S. Mbule (B. Aubaas 81’), O. Appollis (E. Mokwana 81’), M. Nkota (T. Moremi 46’), L. Foster
Angola: H. Marques, C. Mata, K. Gaspar, J. Buatu, Show, Fredy (R. Nteka 86’), A. Muanza (B. Mukendi 86’), Z. Luvumbo (R. Modesto 90+2’), T. Carneiro, C. Banza (F. Milson 76’), G. Dala (Mabululu 76’)