MARRAKECH, MOROCCO — South Africa’s AFCON campaign remains alive after a heart-stopping 3–2 victory over regional rivals Zimbabwe at the Grand Stade de Marrakech. In a match that had everything—from clinical finishing to defensive disasters—it was the composure of Oswin Appollis that ultimately punched Bafana Bafana’s ticket to the knockout stages.
The win sees South Africa finish second in Group B with six points, ensuring they avoid the nail-biting wait of the third-place rankings.
The Early Exchange
Hugo Broos’ side started with the aggression he had called for in the pre-match press conference. It took only seven minutes for the breakthrough: Tshepang Moremi latched onto a well-weighted pass from Lyle Foster and fired a clinical left-footed shot into the roof of the net.
Zimbabwe, fighting for their first-ever knockout berth, refused to shrink. In the 18th minute, Tawanda Maswanhise found space in the center of the box and coolly slotted a right-footed finish into the bottom-left corner to level the score.
The second-half rollercoaster
Bafana regained the lead in the 50th minute when Lyle Foster lived up to his billing as the team’s focal point, rising high to power a header home from an Aubrey Modiba cross.
However, the game took a chaotic turn in the 78th minute. Under immense pressure from a desperate Zimbabwe attack, Modiba accidentally turned the ball into his own net, making it 2–2 and sending the Zimbabwean fans into a frenzy.
The parity lasted only four minutes. In the 82nd minute, Bafana were awarded a crucial penalty. Oswin Appollis stepped up to the spot and showed ice in his veins, sending the keeper the wrong way to restore the 3–2 lead.
Seven minutes of survival
The fourth official’s board signaled seven minutes of added time, turning the final moments into a test of pure endurance. Zimbabwe threw everyone forward — but the South African defense, marshaled by captain Ronwen Williams, held firm amidst the tension.
What’s next for Bafana?
By securing second place, South Africa sets up a massive Round of 16 encounter. They are now slated to face the winners of Group F (expected to be tournament hosts Morocco or a dangerous DR Congo side).
The result caps a dramatic group stage that saw Bafana recover from their earlier 1–0 defeat to Egypt — a match that highlighted both their vulnerabilities and their determination to fight back.
👉 Relive the buildup to this clash in Bafana Bafana’s do-or-die derby with Zimbabwe showdown.
South Africa’s broader football rise
Even as the senior side marches on, South Africa’s football future shines brightly through its youth ranks. Earlier this year, Amajita — the U-20 national team — made history by winning their first-ever AFCON title.
Their breakout star Tylon Smith was later named 2025 AFCON U-20 Best Player, while Honor celebrated the triumph with a tech-fuelled tribute to youth empowerment — a nod to South Africa’s growing football-meets-innovation culture.
