Lyle Foster Superb Goal Against Angola Earn Bafana Bafana Winning Start at AFCON 2025
- Bafana Bafana kick-start their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign in Morocco with a win over Angola in Marrakech on Monday evening
- South Africa broke the jinx as they won their first ever opening match since they've participating in the prestigious African football competition
- Burnley striker Lyle Foster was on the scoresheet as Hugo Broos' men secured all three points against the Palancas Negras
South Africa started their campaign in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco with a win over the Palancas Negras of Angola at the Stade de Marrakech on Monday, December 22, 2025.
Source: Getty Images
Orlando Pirates summer signing Oswin Appollis gave Bafana Bafana the lead in the first half, but Angola fought back before the break as Manuel Show levelled the scoreline. Burnley striker Lyle Foster guaranteed all three points for Hugo Broos' side as his curler from outside the box sealed a 2-1 win for the SA men's national team.
Bafana Bafana defeat Angola in AFCON opener
Captain Ronwen Williams returned to lead the side, with Lyle Foster, Sithole, Siyabonga Ngezana, and Mbekezeli Mbokazi also restored to the starting lineup after sitting out last weekend’s warm-up game against the Black Galaxies of Ghana. Angola, meanwhile, included a recognisable figure of their own, as ex–Cape Town City shot-stopper Hugo Marques mounted the post for them.
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Bafana Bafana asserted their dominance very early in the game, with Sipho Mbule and Teboho Mokoena dictating play in central midfield, while Foster created the first genuine chance of the match in the 10th minute, drawing a full-stretch save from Marques with a powerful header.
Broos' side turned their early control into a breakthrough midway through the first half, as Khuliso Mudau’s delivery took a slight deflection and fell kindly for Appollis, who calmly set himself before driving the ball into the bottom corner to register his maiden goal on his tournament debut.
Source: Getty Images
Angola were unfazed by South Africa’s early momentum and continued to pose danger on the counter-attack, with M’Bala Nzola and Fredy exploiting the wide areas. Palancas Negras could have crept back into the game, but Bafana Bafana had Williams to thank, as the Mamelodi Sundowns skipper produced a sharp reflex save to deny Gelson Dala’s powerful header from a set-piece.
Angola maintained their pressure and were duly rewarded ten minutes before the interval, as Manuel Show marked his 50th cap with a deft near-post finish that slipped past Williams.
The first half ended 1-1, with Bafana Bafana being the best side in terms of possession, while Angola created most of the chances and also had more shots on target.
Bafana Bafana briefly thought they had extended their advantage early in the second half, but VAR intervened to rule out Tshepang Moremi’s strike when Foster was flagged for offside during the buildup.
The setback did little to unsettle Broos’ side, who steadily rediscovered their rhythm and kept pushing for a breakthrough. That persistence paid off in the 79th minute when Foster struck the winner to seal the result for the one-time African champions.
Angola were unable to engineer a late response to restore parity in the match, allowing Bafana Bafana to see out the contest and secure all three points.
Bafana Bafana's next match would be against Egypt, on Friday, December 26, 2025.
Broos names AFCON favourite
Briefly News also reported that Hugo Broos named the team he thinks are favourites to win the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The Belgian tactician snubbed Bafana Bafana, Nigeria, and Egypt while predicting the team that could lift the trophy.
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Source: Briefly News
