South Africa secured their place in the knockout stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) after a dramatic 3–2 victory over Zimbabwe in a pulsating Group B encounter played in Marrakech. A late penalty from Oswin Appollis proved decisive in a match packed with momentum swings, defensive errors, and moments of individual brilliance.

The result ensured Bafana Bafana finished second in Group B, behind group winners Egypt, who had earlier played out a goalless draw with Angola. Zimbabwe, meanwhile, were eliminated after finishing fourth, extending their wait for a first-ever progression beyond the Afcon group stage.

Fast Start Sets the Tone for a See-Saw Contest

South Africa made an explosive start, taking the lead after just seven minutes. Winger Tshepang Moremi fired in a shot that took a heavy deflection off defender Divine Lunga, looping over an unsighted goalkeeper Washington Arubi and into the net.

Zimbabwe responded with composure and flair. Tawanda Maswanhise produced one of the standout moments of the tournament, weaving past defenders before unleashing a superb strike into the bottom corner to restore parity with a goal that showcased both confidence and technical quality.

Lyle Foster Restores the Advantage

The second half began with even greater urgency, and South Africa regained the lead in the 50th minute. Burnley striker Lyle Foster reacted quickest to a flicked header, beating Arubi to the ball and nodding home his second goal of the group stage, once again exposing Zimbabwe’s defensive hesitation.

Zimbabwe refused to fold and injected fresh energy through a triple substitution. Their persistence paid off in fortuitous fashion when South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams made a save that rebounded off the face of defender Aubrey Modiba and into his own net, levelling the score at 2–2.

Late VAR Drama Decides the Match

The decisive moment arrived late in the contest when VAR intervened to penalise Zimbabwe captain Marvelous Nakamba for a diving handball inside the penalty area. Oswin Appollis stepped up and calmly converted from the spot, sealing a crucial victory for Hugo Broos’ side.

The goal sparked celebrations among South Africa’s players and fans, while Zimbabwe were left to reflect on another narrow Afcon defeat.

Tactical Overview: Efficiency Over Dominance

Rather than dominating possession, South Africa showed greater efficiency in decisive moments, capitalising on defensive lapses and set-piece situations. Both open-play goals stemmed from errors, while the penalty resulted from poor defensive positioning.

Despite conceding twice, South Africa’s midfield pairing of Sipho Mbule and Teboho Mokoena controlled large spells of the game, moving the ball quickly and supporting a direct attacking approach. Their willingness to shoot early repeatedly tested Zimbabwe’s back line.

Zimbabwe impressed with their attacking bravery and refusal to retreat even when trailing. However, the absence of injured forward Knowledge Musona was evident, as the Warriors struggled to convert promising positions into goals.

Individual Performances and Defensive Concerns

Maswanhise stood out for Zimbabwe with his pace and dribbling, while Nakamba brought intensity to midfield, though his aggression ultimately proved costly. Goalkeeper Arubi, at 40, endured a difficult evening, particularly on South Africa’s second goal.

For South Africa, Ronwen Williams continued to offer calm leadership despite the unfortunate deflection that led to Zimbabwe’s second goal. However, conceding twice will raise questions about the defensive structure ahead of the knockout rounds.

What’s Next for South Africa and Zimbabwe?

South Africa finish the group stage with six points, four clear of Angola, and will now face the runners-up from Group F — Ivory Coast, Cameroon, or Mozambique — in Rabat on Sunday (19:00 GMT).

Zimbabwe exit the tournament at the group stage once again, meaning they remain winless in terms of progression across six Afcon appearances.

Despite the disappointment, their spirited display suggests progress under new coach Mario Marinica, while South Africa’s ability to respond to adversity could prove vital as they aim to improve on their third-place finish at the 2023 Afcon.