Tue Dec 30 17:50:00 UTC 2025: ## South Africa Advance to AFCON Knockout Stage After Thrilling Victory Over Zimbabwe

Marrakech, Morocco – South Africa secured their place in the knockout stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Zimbabwe in a Group B clash held in Marrakech. The win propelled Bafana Bafana to second place in the group, behind Egypt, marking their eighth appearance in the tournament’s knockout phase.

The match was a rollercoaster affair, with South Africa taking an early lead through a deflected Tshepang Moremi shot in the 7th minute. Zimbabwe responded with a stunning solo effort from Tawanda Maswanhise, who equalized with a brilliant strike.

The second half saw Lyle Foster restore South Africa’s lead in the 50th minute, heading home after capitalizing on a defensive error. Zimbabwe again fought back, leveling the score when a Ronwen Williams save ricocheted off Aubrey Modiba and into the net.

The decisive moment came late in the game when Oswin Appollis converted a penalty, awarded after a VAR review determined Marvelous Nakamba had committed a handball in the area.

While Zimbabwe displayed spirit and attacking ambition, their defensive lapses proved costly, ultimately eliminating them from the tournament. South Africa, led by coach Hugo Broos, demonstrated resilience and capitalized on key moments to secure the crucial win. They will now face the Group F runners-up – potentially Ivory Coast, Cameroon, or Mozambique – in Rabat on Sunday. Zimbabwe, on the other hand, remain unable to progress beyond the group stage in their six AFCON appearances.

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