Dramatic Group Stage Finale in Marrakech
South Africa's national football team, Bafana Bafana, has successfully advanced to the knockout stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), following a hard-fought 3-2 victory over neighboring Zimbabwe. The crucial Group B encounter took place on Monday, December 29, 2025, at the Grand Stadium of Marrakech in Morocco, the host nation for the tournament.
The 2025 AFCON, hosted by Morocco, commenced on December 21, 2025, and is scheduled to conclude on January 18, 2026.
Goals Galore in Tense Group B Decider
The match was a pulsating affair, with Bafana Bafana taking the lead three times. The scoring opened in the seventh minute when Tshepang Moremi found the back of the net. However, Zimbabwe quickly responded, with Tawanda Maswanhise leveling the score in the 19th minute.
After the break, South Africa regained their advantage in the 50th minute through a goal from Lyle Foster. The drama continued as Zimbabwe equalized once more in the 74th minute, this time courtesy of an unfortunate own goal by Aubrey Modiba. The decisive moment arrived in the 82nd minute when Oswin Appollis calmly converted a penalty, awarded after a VAR review for a handball inside the box, securing the vital win for South Africa.
Road to the Knockouts and Beyond
This victory ensured South Africa finished second in Group B with six points, behind Egypt who topped the group with seven points after drawing 0-0 with Angola in their final group match. The qualification marks a significant achievement for Coach Hugo Broos's squad, who had faced pressure after a previous 1-0 loss to Egypt.
Bafana Bafana will now prepare for their Round of 16 fixture, scheduled for Sunday, January 4, at the Al Medina Stadium in Rabat. They are set to face the runner-up of Group F. The team's resilience and attacking prowess were highlighted in this crucial match, setting the stage for an exciting knockout campaign.
5 Comments
Bella Ciao
Conceding twice to Zimbabwe? Our defense is a real worry, honestly.
Comandante
YES! Bafana Bafana showed true grit! Knockouts, here we come!
ZmeeLove
Still not convinced by this team. We need to play much, much better to go further.
Habibi
While the win is absolutely crucial for qualification, giving up two leads suggests defensive frailties that more clinical teams will surely exploit in the knockouts.
Coccinella
While qualifying brings huge relief and marks a step forward, the team's consistent inability to maintain a lead will undoubtedly be a significant concern for Coach Broos moving into the tougher stages.