Marrakech – South Africa made hard work of winning the Group B decider against Zimbabwe 3-2 to qualify for the knock-out stage of the AFCON 2025 tournament.
Early in the second half, a boo-boo by Mamelodi Sundowns and Zimbabwe Warriors’ defender Devine Lunga saw his misdirected header fall kindly for Bafana striker Lyle Foster.
The Burnley forward outjumped Zimbabwe’s 40-year-old goal-minder Wasington Arubi to score Bafana’s second goal.
The goal silenced the vociferous Zimbabwe fans at the rather empty 45-thousand-seater Stade de Marrakech in Morocco.
With Bafana playing all the possession football, Zimbabwe snatched the equaliser.
Zimbabwe drew level after Tawanda Maswanhise’s goal-bound shot was first blocked by Bafana skipper, Ronwen Williams, before the rebound hit defender Aubrey Modiba and agonisingly rolled into the back of the net.
Ten minutes from time, Zimbabwe’s captain Marvellous Nakamba handled the ball, resulting in a penalty for South Africa.
Oswin Appollis made no mistake from the spot to give Bafana the lead for the third time.
The match had begun with Bafana scoring first, just seven minutes into the game, through a deflected shot from Tshepang Moremi.
The deflected shot wrong-footed Arubi, who was left stranded on his bottom as he watched the ball sail over his head into an empty net.
However, Zimbabwe equalised through an individual effort from Maswanhise 19′, who dribbled past three players before he slotted the ball past Williams.
The pattern was repeated in the second stanza – Bafana scored and the Warriors equalised. Things remained in the balance until the late penalty sealed the win for Bafana.
