South Africa comes out on top against Angola for its first match of this CAN 2025. Foster scores a magnificent goal to give his team the advantage at the end of the match.
Lyle Foster scored a superb goal from outside the box to give South Africa a 2-1 victory over Angola on Monday in Marrakech on the first day of Group B of the African Cup of Nations. A historic success for the South Africans, who had not won their opening match of the final phase for 21 years.
Bafana Bafana could even have made their task easier: they were denied a goal and a shot found the crossbar. But Angola also created several chances and may harbor regrets for not having snatched at least one point.
Skip the ad
Without having the strength provided by players playing in the major European championships from which certain rival nations benefit (Foster being the only one to play in the Premier League, at Burnley) South Africa delivered a diligent and collective performance.
After a long sequence of South African possession, the opener came from a cross from Khuliso Mudau, touched by Sipho Mbule and Foster, before Appollis eliminated two defenders to finish with a flat foot.
Under the direction of Belgian coach Hugo Broos, the team appears well-established and has done what is necessary to win, a success which puts it on the right track for qualification for the knockout stages. Egypt and Zimbabwe face each other later on Monday in the group’s other match.
Angola’s equalizer came in the 35th minute, with Show scoring his second goal in 50 caps by deflecting Fredy’s free kick to bring the teams level at the break.
In the second half, South Africa looked to regain the lead when Tshepang Moremi, who came on at half-time, beat his defender before scoring, but VAR ruled out the goal for an offside position by Foster early in the action.
Skip the ad
Shortly after, Mbekezeli Mbokazi rattled the crossbar with a powerful strike from 35 yards, before Foster’s clinical finish sealed the fate of the match.
,fit(1200:))
