SOCCER: South Africa edge Zimbabwe 3-2 to book knockout place

Oswin Appollis scored a late penalty to give South Africa a 3-2 victory over Zimbabwe in Marrakech on Monday, sealing second place in Group B at the Africa Cup of Nations and eliminating their southern African rivals from the tournament.

South Africa finished the group stage with six points, one behind group winners Egypt. Both teams advanced to the last 16, while Angola placed third with two points and will wait anxiously to see if they qualify as one of the four best third-placed teams.

Bafana Bafana took the lead three times in an open and entertaining match, with Tshepang Moremi scoring his first international goal, alongside strikes from Lyle Foster and Appollis. However, coach Hugo Broos will be concerned by his team’s defensive frailties after repeatedly allowing Zimbabwe back into the contest.

Tawanda Maswanhise netted a superb first equalizer for Zimbabwe and was also involved in the second goal, which came via an own goal by South Africa defender Aubrey Modiba. Zimbabwe created several other chances and could have earned at least a draw.

South Africa, who finished third at the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast two years ago and have already qualified for the 2026 World Cup, have yet to reach top form in the tournament and were exposed defensively at times.

They opened the scoring in the seventh minute when Moremi’s shot took a heavy deflection off Divine Lunga and looped into the net.

Zimbabwe responded in the 19th minute with one of the goals of the tournament. Maswanhise collected the ball about 35 yards from goal, skipped past two defenders, and fired a low drive past goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.

Poor Defending

South Africa regained the lead five minutes after halftime when Lunga’s misdirected header back toward goalkeeper Washington Arubi allowed Foster to get in front and head the ball into the net.

Zimbabwe equalized again in the 73rd minute when Williams saved Maswanhise’s low shot, but the rebound struck Modiba and deflected into the net for an own goal.

The decisive moment came with 10 minutes remaining when Zimbabwe midfielder Marvelous Nakamba was penalized for handling the ball after making a diving, goalkeeper-style block inside the penalty area.

Appollis calmly converted the spot kick to secure the win, dashing Zimbabwe’s hopes of reaching the knockout stages at the Africa Cup of Nations for the sixth consecutive time.

-Reporting by Nick Said; Editing by Christian Radnedge/Reuters