Lyle Foster’s late curling strike secured a 2-1 win for South Africa over Angola, giving Bafana Bafana a winning start to their 2025 AFCON campaign.
Lyle Foster struck a spectacular late winner as South Africa secured a 2-1 victory over Angola in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations opener.
Despite manager Hugo Broos downplaying title hopes by stating he wanted to “downplay his side’s title hopes,” Bafana Bafana delivered an impressive performance in Marrakesh.
The result places South Africa at the top of Group B as they chase their first continental trophy in three decades.
The match began at a frantic pace, with Oswin Appollis opening the scoring after a miscontrol by Foster.
Angola responded aggressively, testing goalkeeper Ronwen Williams multiple times before Manuel Luis Show finally equalized at the near post before the interval.
While the scores remained level, the Angolan side frequently threatened, leaving Bafana Bafana’s defense under significant pressure throughout a wide-open and entertaining first half of play.
The second period proved scrappier, with a potential South African goal by Tshepang Moremi ruled out for offside.
However, the narrative shifted in the closing stages when Foster, who had struggled for much of the game, curled a clinical strike into the top-right corner.
The Burnley forward “rewrote the narrative with his intervention,” ultimately settling the contest and providing South Africa with a perfect start to their tournament campaign.