South Africa has punched their ticket to the knockout stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with an exhilarating 3-2 victory against Zimbabwe in Marrakech. The decisive moment came with a late penalty from Oswin Appollis, ensuring Bafana Bafana’s success as they finished second in Group B, right behind Egypt. This defeat means Zimbabwe ends their tournament journey in the fourth position of the group.
The match kicked off with an early goal from South Africa’s Tshepang Moremi just seven minutes in. However, Zimbabwe quickly equalized with a remarkable solo effort from Tawanda Maswanhise. The flow of the match continued to shift as Lyle Foster gave South Africa the lead once more at the beginning of the second half. Zimbabwe responded again, leveling the score through a fortunate own goal from South Africa’s Aubrey Modiba, whose clearance took an unexpected deflection into the net.
As tensions rose, Appollis found the opportunity to secure the win through a penalty after a VAR review deemed there was a handball in the box. This win not only advances South Africa to the next round but also highlights their resilience and determination as they aim for success in the tournament.
Looking ahead, South Africa will face the Group F runners-up in their next match in Rabat on Sunday, while Zimbabwe will have to continue their pursuit of advancement at future tournaments. Despite the disappointment, both teams exhibited tremendous skill and competitive spirit throughout the match, making the excitement of the tournament palpable for fans.
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