Bafana Bafana beat Angola 2-1 as Foster claims match-winning goal

Burnley striker Lyle Foster scored in the 79th minute as South Africa edged Angola 2-1 in Marrakesh on Monday, claiming their first opening victory in an Africa Cup of Nations campaign in 21 years. Since defeating Benin in the 2004 tournament, Bafana Bafana had drawn twice and lost four times on their tournament debuts.

Monday’s Group B opener unfolded in three distinct phases. South Africa began strongly, with Oswin Appollis putting the visitors ahead in the 21st minute before a sparse crowd at the near-42,000-seat stadium. Angola regained control for the remainder of the first half, with Show levelling the score. South Africa recovered in the second half, asserting dominance before Foster struck to secure the win. Egypt, led by captain Mohamed Salah, face Zimbabwe later in Agadir.

South Africa pressed from the outset, forcing goalkeeper Hugo Marques into an early save from Fredy Ribeiro’s shot in the 15th minute. Six minutes later, Appollis capitalised on a Khuliso Mudau cross, taking possession and finishing low past the 39-year-old Marques to give Bafana Bafana the lead. Ronwen Williams kept the lead intact with a brilliant point-blank save from Gelson Dala at the half-hour mark.

Angola gradually asserted themselves, and Show equalised in the 35th minute. Siyabonga Ngezana escaped a yellow card after fouling Dala, but the free-kick that followed proved costly. Show connected with the low delivery to steer the ball into the corner. Tempers flared as the half progressed, with Sudanese referee cautioning Angola’s To Carneiro and South Africans Aubrey Modiba and Sphephelo Sithole. By halftime, French coach Patrice Beaumelle would have been the happier manager, with Angola unlucky not to lead.

South Africa thought they had regained the lead six minutes into the second half when substitute Tshepang Moremi, replacing the ineffective Mohau Nkota, slotted a low shot past Marques. The celebrations were short-lived, however, as VAR ruled Foster marginally offside — he remains the squad’s only South African player from Europe’s top five leagues.

Bafana Bafana intensified their attack, with centre-back Mbekezeli Mbokazi venturing forward for a long-range strike that rebounded off the crossbar. South Africa, subdued for much of the first half, became the aggressors, consistently pressing for a decisive goal.

A swift counterattack saw Moremi outpace a defender before feeding Foster, who initially fired over. Foster atoned in the 79th minute, firing from the edge of the box past Marques to put South Africa back in front. The move stemmed from an intercepted Angolan pass and two precise team passes, allowing Foster to notch his fourth goal in six international appearances.