By AGISANANG SCUFF
30 December 2025- Bafana Bafana are through to the Last 16 stage of the Africa Cup of Nations after beating Zimbabwe 3-2 in a pulsating five-goal thriller played at the Marrakech Stadium on Monday night. A lot was at stake in this final Group B match and the two COSAFA neighbours started the game with an opportunity to qualify for the knockout stages of the tournament.
But it was coach Hugo Broos’ charges who raced to an early lead when Tshepang Moremi scored the opening goal of the match in the seventh minute after his goal-bound shot was deflected into the back of the net by Zimbabwe’s Divine Lunga. To their credit, the Zimbabweans did not drop their heads after the setback and took the game to the South Africans instead, to the delight of the sizable crowd that was in attendance.
They were eventually rewarded when the troublesome Tawanda Mashwanhise found the back of the net in the 19th minute after dribbling his way past the Bafana Bafana rear-guard. The South Africans reclaimed the lead in the second half after Lyle Foster beat goalkeeper Washington Arubi in the air and headed his effort into the back of the net in the 50th minute.
But the stubborn Zimbabwe equalised again after a shot from Maswanhise hit Aubrey Modiba and ricocheted into the back of the net in the 73rd minute. Bafana Bafana were awarded a penalty after Zimbabwe captain Marvelous Nakamba handled the ball inside the area very late in the game.
Man of the match Oswin Appollis calmly stepped up and converted the winning goal of the match from the spot in the 82nd minute.
Meanwhile, Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie joined the fans in the stands and added his voice to the many that cheered Bafana Bafana during this exciting showdown between the two neighbouring countries. The South African senior men’s national team will remain in Marrakech until towards the end of the week before travelling to Rabat for their Last 16 match.
The Guardian 