Bafana Bafana Edge Zimbabwe in Five-Goal Thriller to Secure AFCON Knockout Spot

South Africa’s national football team, Bafana Bafana, secured their passage to the Round of 16 at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) following a dramatic 3–2 victory over regional rivals Zimbabwe on Monday evening. In a high-stakes "COSAFA derby" at the Marrakech Stadium, Hugo Broos’s men overcame a resilient Warriors side to finish second in Group B, effectively ending Zimbabwe’s tournament hopes.

The match exploded into life in the seventh minute when Tshepang Moremi gave South Africa an early lead. Collecting a pass from Lyle Foster, Moremi unleashed a strike that took a slight deflection off Divine Lunga and looped over veteran goalkeeper Washington Arubi. The early breakthrough set the tone for an open, attacking contest as Zimbabwe, needing a win to stay alive, abandoned their defensive posture.

Zimbabwe responded in the 19th minute through Tawanda Maswanhise. The forward displayed clinical composure, dribbling past two defenders before rifling a low drive into the bottom corner. Despite South Africa dominating possession for the remainder of the first half, the teams headed into the interval deadlocked at 1–1.

Bafana Bafana regained the lead shortly after the restart. In the 50th minute, Oswin Appollis delivered a precise cross that found Lyle Foster, who rose highest to power a header into the net. The goal seemed to put South Africa in control, but a bizarre 74th-minute equaliser—an own goal by Aubrey Modiba after a deflection left Ronwen Williams helpless—restored parity and set up a frantic finale.

The decisive moment arrived in the 82nd minute following a VAR review. Zimbabwe midfielder Marvelous Nakamba was penalised for a handball on the goal line, handing South Africa a penalty. Oswin Appollis stepped up and showed composure, stroking the ball past Arubi to secure the win.

The result leaves South Africa with six points, finishing as runners-up in Group B behind Egypt, who played out a 0–0 draw with Angola simultaneously. Zimbabwe finishes at the bottom of the group with a single point. Bafana Bafana are now scheduled to face the runners-up of Group F in the Round of 16 on January 4, 2026, in Rabat.