Lyle Foster’s winning goal in the 79th minute gave South Africa their first AFCON opening win since 2004.
Published December 22, 2025
Lyle Foster scored a stunning winning goal from outside the box as South Africa defeated Angola 2-1 in Group B of the Africa Cup of Nations in Marrakech on Monday, marking the first time in 21 years that South Africa had won their opening match in a continental final.
South Africa also had a goal disallowed, hitting the crossbar and giving them what they deserved a nervy win. Angola had their chances, but it would be a shame that they couldn’t get something out of this game.
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South Africa took the lead in the 21st minute when Oswin Apolis showed some neat footwork inside the box to create a shooting chance and slot the ball into the bottom corner of the goal. However, Angola equalized before the break when Freddie’s free kick was touched by Shaw and the ball into the net.
The moment of victory came after 79 minutes. Foster curled a shot into the top corner from the tee with 20 yards left to give the bronze medalist two years ago a positive start.
It was a workmanlike performance for South Africa, who lack the depth of players in Europe’s top leagues that their tournament rivals enjoy, with Foster being the only player in Burnley’s Premier League side.
However, they were competent enough under Belgian coach Hugo Bruce and did enough to win and stay on track for the finals. Egypt and Zimbabwe will play in the same pool later on Monday.
Even in the first half
South Africa took the lead after sustained possession, connecting with Chryso Mdau’s cross. It was touched by both Sipho Mbule and Foster before Apolis beat two defenders and slotted wide-footed into the bottom corner.
Angola equalized in the 35th minute when Freddie’s low free-kick was converted by Shaw into the bottom corner of the goal, his second goal in 50 international appearances, making it 1-1 by the end of the first half.
South Africa thought they had regained the lead at half-time when substitute Tshepang Moremi outran a defender and fired a low shot into the bottom corner, but a VAR review found Foster was offside in the build-up.
Foster’s clinical strike secured all three points after South Africa’s Mbekezeli Mbokazi smashed the ball onto the crossbar with a sharp shot from 35 yards.
Zambia draw with Mali
Zambia’s Patson Daka scored a stunning diving header in stoppage time to seal a come-from-behind win in Monday’s Group A match and seal a 1-1 draw with Mali in Casablanca.
Mali looked in control for most of the match but paid the price for falling behind in the closing stages as Zambia struggled to recover. With two minutes left in the game, Daka leapt through the air to convert Matthews Banda’s curling cross into the goal.
Racing Sinayoko took advantage of sloppy defending to give Mali the lead in the 62nd minute after strike partner El Villar Toure saved a first-half penalty.
