South Africa Secures Hard-Fought 2-1 Victory Over Angola in AFCON 2025 Opener

Bafana Bafana Begin Tournament with Crucial Three Points

South Africa defeated Angola 2-1 in the first round of the Africa Cup of Nations group stage at the Marrakech Stadium in Morocco on 22 December 2025. The victory was secured by an excellent Lyle Foster goal, marking a successful start to South Africa’s campaign in what promises to be a competitive Group B.

The match held particular significance for both teams, as Bafana Bafana have recorded two wins against Angola across their previous four meetings, with the other two matches ending in draws, and all four previous AFCON clashes between the sides have come in the group stages. For South Africa, this victory represented more than just three points—it’s South Africa’s first opening-game win at the Africa Cup of Nations for 21 years.

Match Highlights and Key Moments

The encounter began with intensity from both sides. Oswin Appollis gave Bafana Bafana their first breakthrough in the 20th minute of the game with a right footer from the centre of the box. However, Angola refused to be overwhelmed and fought back admirably. Angola soon followed suit with a leveller from Manuel Cafumana in the 35th minute, ensuring the teams went into halftime level at 1-1.

The second half proved to be a tense affair with both teams creating opportunities. South Africa had a goal disallowed after a VAR review found an offside in the build-up play. The deadlock was finally broken in dramatic fashion when The Burnley forward curled home from 25 yards, having won back possession two passes earlier, to give Bafana Bafana the lead in the 79th minute. Foster’s moment of brilliance proved to be the decisive strike that sealed all three points for South Africa.

Tournament Context and Looking Ahead

This victory comes at an important time for South Africa, who recently qualified for the 2026 World Cup, their first World Cup since the 2010 World Cup, where they hosted. The momentum from their World Cup qualification appears to have carried into the AFCON tournament, with the team showing determination and resilience throughout the match.

For Angola, despite the defeat, there were positive signs. Angola had already pegged back South Africa once, but could not do so a second time and fell to a defeat they can still take encouragement from. The team demonstrated fighting spirit and created several dangerous opportunities throughout the match.

South Africa play Egypt in their next Group B game, while Angola face Zimbabwe, both on Friday. With Group B also featuring these strong sides, every point will be crucial in determining which teams progress to the knockout stages. South Africa’s winning start puts them in an excellent position, but tougher challenges lie ahead in what is shaping up to be one of the most competitive groups in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.