South Africa's quest for AFCON glory began in the most dramatic fashion possible at the Stade de Marrakech. A second-half strike from Burnley forward Lyle Foster secured a vital 2-1 victory over Angola, but the scoreline barely tells the story of an absorbing Group B encounter that swung wildly in both directions.
Bafana Bafana's statement of intent
Hugo Broos's 2023 semi-finalists arrived in Morocco with genuine aspirations of going one step further. This performance – resilient, tactically astute, and ultimately decisive – suggests those ambitions are well-founded.
Oswin Appollis opened the scoring in the 21st minute with a clinical finish that showcased the Orlando Pirates winger's growing reputation. A floated cross from the right by Khuliso Mudau found Appollis cutting inside from the left, and his low drive gave goalkeeper Hugo Marques no chance.
Angola's response and tactical battle
The Palancas Negras, quarter-finalists two years ago under Patrice Beaumelle, refused to capitulate. Their equalizer arrived in the 35th minute through Show, who had been a pre-match doubt due to illness. Captain Fredy's excellent free-kick delivery from the left found Show at the near post, and his clever flick wrong-footed goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.
The first half developed into a fascinating tactical chess match. Angola committed numbers forward with increasing frequency, while South Africa's compact 4-3-3 looked to exploit transition opportunities. Both teams created clear chances, but neither could find separation before the interval.
Foster's moment of brilliance
The decisive moment arrived in the 79th minute. Half-time substitute Tshepang Moremi – who had earlier seen a goal disallowed for marginal offside – played a precise cutback from the right side of the area.
Foster, lurking at the edge of the box, controlled the ball and curled a magnificent effort into the top right corner. It was his ninth international goal and arguably his most important, arriving at a crucial moment in South Africa's tournament.
The Burnley striker had earlier fired over from a similar position in the 77th minute, making his immediate redemption all the more satisfying.
Ronwen Williams: captain, leader, foundation
Williams's importance to this South African side cannot be overstated. The goalkeeper produced a stunning save to deny Fredy in the first half, diving full-stretch to turn aside the Angolan skipper's effort from inside the box.
His communication and positioning helped organize a defense that weathered significant pressure, particularly in the opening 45 minutes when Angola seemed destined to take control of the contest.
Historical context adds weight
This was the fifth meeting between these nations at AFCON finals. South Africa have now won three times, with two draws completing the record. More significantly, it maintains a pattern: when these teams are drawn together, only one progresses to the knockout stages.
The fixture also marked South Africa's first AFCON opening-game victory since 2004, breaking a sequence of four draws and four defeats in their previous eight tournament openers.
What comes next
South Africa face Egypt on Boxing Day in what now shapes as a potential Group B decider. Both teams opened with victories, with the Pharaohs edging Zimbabwe 2-1 thanks to Mohamed Salah's stoppage-time winner.
Angola, meanwhile, must regroup for a must-win encounter against Zimbabwe in Marrakech on Friday. The Palancas Negras created enough opportunities to suggest they remain competitive, but their tournament is now precariously positioned.
Key match statistics
- First AFCON opener win for South Africa since 2004
- Foster's 9th international goal
- Williams made crucial first-half save from Fredy
- Mbokazi hit crossbar with long-range effort (59')
- Moremi goal disallowed for offside shortly after half-time
Match timeline
- 21': Appollis opens scoring for South Africa
- 35': Show equalizes for Angola from Fredy's free-kick
- 46': Moremi introduced at half-time
- 52': Moremi goal ruled out for offside
- 59': Mbokazi strikes crossbar from 40 yards
- 79': Foster curls home the winner
Final score: South Africa 2-1 Angola
Scorers: Appollis 21', Foster 79' / Show 35'
Tactical takeaways
Broos deserves credit for his half-time adjustments. Moremi's introduction added dynamism to South Africa's attacking play, and the decision to push Mudau higher proved decisive in the build-up to Foster's winner.
Angola's pressing intensity dropped notably after the hour mark, allowing the Bafana Bafana to assert greater territorial control. Beaumelle must find solutions to his side's stamina issues before Friday's fixture.
For South Africa, this represents the perfect start. Three points, clean sheet avoided at the last, but most importantly – momentum established for the challenges ahead.