Oswin Appollis converted a late penalty to give South Africa a 3-2 Africa Cup of Nations win over Zimbabwe in Marrakech on Monday and qualification for the knockout stages.
Bafana Bafana have to wait until Wednesday to know who they will compete against in the eighth finals on Sunday. It will probably be defending champion Ivory Coast or five-time winner Cameroon.
South Africa finished with six points, Angola – it played a goalless draw against Egypt – two and Zimbabwe one. Angola could enter the knockout stages as one of the top four third-placed teams.
In Marrakech, the president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), South African Patrice Motsepe, was among a small but noisy crowd Bafana Bafana gain an early foothold.
Zimbabwe goalkeeper Washington Arubi reacted late to Appollis’ low shot in the sixth minute, grabbing the ball just before it crossed the line.
A minute later, South Africa took the lead thanks to rising star Tshepang Moremi in the clash between South African neighbors.
The ball was played across the field to Moremi just outside the penalty area. He unleashed a shot on goal that deflected Divine Lunga and sent the 40-year-old Arubi into the net.
Conceding a goal motivated Zimbabwe further, and they deservedly leveled in the 19th minute, thanks to the individual brilliance of Tawanda Maswanhise.
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South Africa – ravaged by the equalizer – started the second period aggressively. After 50 minutes they took the lead again through Burnley striker Lyle Foster.
The Premier League player rushed a return header to the slow-reacting Arubi and then outsmarted the experienced goalkeeper to nod the ball into the net.
It was the 25-year-old’s second goal of the tournament, after his winner against Angola. He is the only South African currently playing in a major European competition.
After some time under pressure, Zimbabwe equalized after 73 minutes when Aubrey Modiba conceded an own goal.
A brilliant long pass from substitute Tawanda Chirewa found Maswanhise, whose shot was parried by Williams. The ball rebounded, hit Modiba and rolled into the net.
Appollis then scored from a penalty in the 82nd minute Bafana Bafana the lead for the third time, which they kept.
Published on December 30, 2025
