South Africa opened their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign with a tense but valuable 2–1 victory over Angola in Marrakech, navigating a challenging Southern African derby to claim all three points.

The match started brightly for Bafana Bafana, who took the lead through Percy Tau Apollis, setting the tone with confident early possession. However, Angola responded before the break, with Show finding the equaliser late in the first half to restore parity and momentum.

After the interval, South Africa raised the tempo and began to assert greater control. Mbokazi came agonisingly close when his effort rattled the crossbar, while a goal from Moremi was ruled out for offside, underlining the growing pressure on the Angolan defence.

The decisive moment arrived in the 79th minute, courtesy of Lyle Foster. The Burnley forward kept his composure inside the box to score the winner, delivering a crucial breakthrough and underlining his importance to the national side.

It marked Foster’s ninth goal for the South Africa national team and his first of this AFCON tournament. The result also extended South Africa’s impressive unbeaten run on the pitch to 27 matches.

2025 Africa Cup of Nations

RSA - Angola 2:1 (1:1)
Goals: Appollis, 21 (1:0); Show, 35 (1:1); Foster L., 79 (2:1)

RSA: Williams Ro.; Modiba; Mbokazi; Mudau; Ngezana; Mokoena; Sithole; Mbule (Aubaas, 80); Appollis (Mokwana, 80); Nkota (Moremi, 46); Foster L.
Substitution: Moremi (from 46); Aubaas (from 80); Mokwana (from 80)
Bench: Goss; Sibisi; Campbell S.; Makgopa
Yellow Cards: Modiba 41; Sithole 45

Angola: Marques; Buatu J.; Mata C.; Gaspar; То; Show; Muanza (Beni, 86); Nzola (Mabululu A., 76); Gelson Dala (Milson, 76); Fredy R. (Nteka, 86); Luvumbo (Banza Ch., 90)
Substitution: Milson (from 76); Mabululu A. (from 76); Beni (from 86); Nteka (from 86); Banza Ch. (from 90)
Bench: Antonio S.; Неблу; Fortuna N.; Carmo; Bondo; Keliano; Balbudia; Modesto; Benson
Yellow Cards: То 32; Nteka 88