South Africa qualified for the knockout stages of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025 after edging out Zimbabwe side 3–2 in a gripping Group B encounter on Monday, Decmber 9thm 2025.
Bafana Bafana made a good start, striking inside seven minutes after Tshepang Moremi capitalised on a deflected effort, lifting the ball over goalkeeper Arubi to hand South Africa an early lead.
After an entertaining first half, South Africa regained control shortly after the restart. Defensive blunder by Zimbabwe proved costly in the 50th minute, allowing Lyle Foster to pounce and cleverly lob Arubi with a looping header to make it 2–1.
Kenyan-born Jonah Fabisch passed the ball to Maswanhise, who then took it upon himself in an individual effort to get inside the box and with a superb strike, equalized for Zimbabwe with goalkeeper Rowen Williams becoming a bystander in the South Africa post.
Referee awarded South Africa a penalty for a handball by Marvelous Nakamba. Oswin Appollis stepped up and calmly converted from the spot in the 82nd minute, extending South Africa’s lead.
An own goal from Aubrey Modiba reduced the deficit and sparked a frantic finale, with the Warriors throwing bodies forward in stoppage time in search of an equaliser.
Zimbabwe coach Mario Marinica: “We knew South Africa would have spells of dominance. They are a team that likes to have the ball and knows how to use it. .”
Hugo Broos – South Africa coach Hugo Broos: “The match was under control until the moment we scored. After that, we repeated the same mistakes as in previous games.”
