AFCON 2025: Late penalty earns Bafana Bafana place in last 16 after bizzare COSAFA derby

South Africa secured a place in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) round of 16 following a 3-2 victory in a high scoring final group B match played at the Stade de Marrakech on Monday, 29 December.

Going into the match, the group was open, with South Africa having three points, while Zimbabwe had a slim chance as they were at the bottom of the group with a single point.

Bafana Bafana began the match on a high, and got their first chance inside the first minute when Sipho Mbule fired wide of the right post after finding the end of a great pass from Khuliso Mudau.

Zimbabwe also announced their intentions in the fourth minute when Tawanda Maswanhise controlled the ball inside the box, but his goal-bound shot was blocked by the South African defense.

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The early chances continued into the sixth minute when Oswin Appolis found a ball inside the box, unleashed a shot at goal but Washington Arubi in the Zimbabwe goal made a good save.

Arubi was helpless a minute later when Lyle Foster picked Tshepang Moremi inside the Zimbabwe box. The Orlando Pirates forward took a shot that was deflected as it went into the back of the net to break the deadlock.

The goal seemed to have rattled The Warriors who produced a series of attacks but it was until the 19th minute that they had a breakthrough.

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 Ronwen Williams becoming a bystander in the South Africa post.

Buoyed by the goal, Zimbabwe increased their tempo and dominance in the match but could only create half chances through Brendan Galloway, Marvellous Nakamba and Munashe Garananda leading up to the half hour mark.

South Africa then regained their confidence and momentum in the match, especially from the 40th minute but could also not create big chances or score with the halftime whistle blowing with the scores at 1-1.

At half time, Hugo Broos brought on Bathusi Jurry for Sphephelo Sithole in a bid to have more control of the game.

The substitution seemed to have brought life into the South African midfield with the momentum counting in the 50th minute when Foster turned from provider to scorer to restore Bafana Bafana’s lead by heading the ball home after a defensive error from Zimbabwe.

South Africa almost doubled their lead in the 58th minute but Arubi made an important save from an Apollis strike after the latter took a shot inside the box that was heading to the bottom left corner.

Zimbabwe then made a triple change, bringing in Tawanda Chirewa, Junior Zindoga and Macauley Bone for Daniel Msembani, Bill Antonio and Prince Dube.

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Zimbabwe enjoyed a spell of possession after the substitutions but their dominance could only result in Maswahinse brushing the post with his strike in the 64th minute.

South Africa were at it three minutes later when Mbule latched onto a pass on the edge of the box, took a ferocious strike but the goalkeeper was equal to the task and made a good save.

In the 73rd minute, Mwanahinse drew a brilliant save from Williams after he created a space for himself and took a low shot to the middle of the goal.

The Warriors were then rewarded seconds later when Aubrey Modiba was disoriented and turned a Zimbabwe attack into his own net to level the scores.

Bafana Bafana increased their urgency in search of a goal and were rewarded a penalty in the 82nd minute through the help of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) after the center referee missed to spot a Zimbabwean handball in the box.

Appolllis stepped up to score what would turn to be a winner as South Africa claimed a 3-2 victory to finish second in group B with six points and joins group leaders Egypt in the round of 16.

AFCON 2025 - GROUP STAGE

3rd round

Monday

Angola - Egypt 0-0

Zimbabwe - South Africa 2-3 (1-1)

/Maswanhise 19, Modiba 73 og - Moremi 7, Foster 50, Appollis 82 pen/

22.00: (6.75) Comoros (3.90) Mali (1.55)

22.00: (14.0) Zambia (6.00) Morocco (1.22)

Tuesday

19.00: (8.00) Tanzania (4.00) Tunisia (1.47)

19.00: (3.45) Uganda (3.15) Nigeria (2.25)

22.00: (11.0) Benin (5.20) Senegal (1.30)

22.00: (12.0) Botswana (5.60) Dr Congo (1.27)

Wednesday

19.00: (6.00) Equatorial Guinea (3.60) Algeria (1.65)

19.00: (4.60) Sudan (3.35) Burkina Faso (1.87)

22.00: (6.00) Gabon (3.60) Ivory Coast (1.65)

22.00: (7.00) Mozambique (4.50) Cameroon (1.45)

***odds are subject to change***