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 2004, Bafana Bafana had drawn twice and lost four times on their tournament debuts.
The Group B opener unfolded in three distinct phases. South Africa started brightly, with Oswin Appollis giving the team the lead in the 21st minute before a sparse crowd in the near-42,000-seat stadium. Angola regained control for the remainder of the first half, with Show levelling. South Africa then recovered in the second half, asserting dominance before Foster struck to secure maximum points.
Egypt, captained by Mohamed Salah, face Zimbabwe later in the southern coastal city of Agadir in the same group.
South Africa pressed from the outset, forcing goalkeeper Hugo Marques into a quick save from fellow captain Fredy Ribeiro 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. Williams came to the rescue again at the half-hour mark, producing a brilliant point-blank save from Gelson Dala’s header.
Angola were gaining momentum, and Show — one of several Angolan players known by nicknames — equalised in the 35th minute. Siyabonga Ngezana escaped a yellow card after fouling Dala, but the resulting free-kick proved costly. Show connected with the low delivery, steering the ball into the corner.
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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 be ahead.
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. Celebrations were short-lived, however, as VAR ruled Foster marginally offside. Foster remains the squad’s only South African from Europe’s top five leagues.
Bafana Bafana intensified their attack, with centre-back Mbekezeli Mbokazi venturing forward to attempt a long-range strike that rebounded off the crossbar. On the back foot for much of the first half, South Africa were now the aggressors, pushing forward relentlessly in search of the lead.
A swift counterattack saw Moremi outpace a defender before laying the ball to Foster, who initially fired over. Foster atoned in the 79th minute, curling a shot from the edge of the box past Marques to put South Africa back in front. The move followed an intercepted Angolan pass and two precise team passes, allowing Foster to claim his fourth goal in six international matches.
