AFCON: Bafana Bafana don't forgive mistakes: Angola fight but leave empty-handed

South Africa have never lost to Angola at the Africa Cup of Nations, and that tradition will remain alive for some time in the future, as Bafana Bafana opened the continental tournament with a 2-1 win over the Black Sable Antelopes!

However, to be fair, Patrice Beaumelle's crew put in a decent performance and fought bravely against the stronger opponent, while its midfielder of a peculiar name, Show, barely stole the show, after annulling Oswin Appollis' 21st-minute opener just 14 minutes later.

The time from South Africa's opener to the break was Angola's period of best play, but when they failed to capitalize on it with a lead, Hugo Broos' men established a strong dominance in the second half, and didn't take their foot off the gas until the referee's final whistle.

That approach ultimately brought them the vital three points, as Burnley striker Lyle Foster netted a beautiful winner in the 79th minute, helping his team make a significant step towards the knockout phase.

During the opening quarter of an hour, each side threatened once - South Africa over Lyle Foster and Angola over M'Bala Nzola - and both keepers, Ronwen Williams and Hugo Marques, were forced to react.

As expected, Bafana Bafana gradually took control of the game, and it eventually led to their 21st-minute opener. Following a cross from the right flank, two of their players skipped the ball, and it came to Oswin Appollis, who skillfully found the bottom-right corner of Angola's goal, scoring his sixth goal in the 20th national team appearance.

However, as if the deadlock-breaker had woken up the Black Sable Antelopes, they soon established dominance against the stronger opponent, forcing South Africa to defend desperately.

Zito Luvumbo on the right-hand side and the striker Gelson Dala caused a lot of trouble to Hugo Broos' team, and a foul on the latter led to a free-kick cross, which the midfielder Show superbly placed into the net, levelling the score in the 35th minute.

Even after the equalizer, the Angolans were a better team, but the result didn't change until the break.

The second half had barely started, and South Africa were on the verge of taking the lead again. Unfortunately for them, the goal Tshepang Moremi - who had replaced Mohau Nkota at the break - scored was disallowed for Lyle Foster's offside, though it was a warning for Angola that any complacency would be punished.

Still, Bafana Bafana's pressure continued, as Broos' men must have felt it was their time to attack. In the 58th minute, their centre-back Mbekezile Mbokazi unleashed a missile from over 30 meters, but was extremely ill-fortunate, as his bomb crashes against the bar of Marques' goal.

AFCON: Daka strikes late as Zambia hold Mali in AFCON opener

Nevertheless, this time South Africa didn't repeat the mistake from the first half, when they let Angola make a phoenix-like rise and bounce back. On the contrary, Bafana Bafana's dominance was stronger as the end of the game approached, and they were rewarded for such a mindset in the 79th minute when Foster netted a beautiful goal from the edge of the box, putting his team back in front - 2-1!

The Black Sable Antelopes did try to pursue another leveller, managed to create a melee and cause panic in South Africa's box a few times, but it wasn't enough to avoid defeat.

The other game in Group B will be played tonight as Egypt will lock horns with Zimbabwe (23.00) in Agadir.

AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS - GROUP STAGE

Sunday

Morocco - Comoros 2-0 (0-0)

/Diaz 55, El Kaabi 74/

Monday

Mali - Zambia 1-1 (0-0)

/Sinayoko 61 - Daka 90+2/

South Africa - Angola 2-1 (1-1)

/Appollis 21, Foster 79 - Show 35/

23.00: (1.37) Egypt (4.50) Zimbabwe (10.0)

Tuesday

15.30: (1.67) DR Congo (3.50) Benin (5.80)

18.00: (1.25) Senegal (5.70) Botswana (13.0)

20.30: (1.45) Nigeria (4.20) Tanzania (8.00)

23.00: (1.70) Tunisia (3.50) Uganda (5.50)

Wednesday

15.30: (1.80) Burkina Faso (3.50) Equatorial Guinea (4.70)

18.00: (1.45) Algeria (4.20) Sudan (8.00)

20.30: (1.40) Ivory Coast (4.50) Mozambique (8.50)

23.00: (2.15) Cameroon (3.25) Gabon (3.60)

***odds are subject to change***