South Africa Clinches Second Place in Group B with Late Penalty Against Zimbabwe
In a dramatic Group B encounter at the Africa Cup of Nations in Marrakech, South Africa secured a 3-2 victory over Zimbabwe thanks to a late penalty converted by Oswin Appollis with approximately 10 minutes left on the clock. This win ensured South Africa finished second in the group with six points, just one behind group winners Egypt. Both South Africa and Egypt have advanced to the last 16 stage of the tournament.
South Africa’s goals were scored by Tshepang Moremi, who netted his first international goal, Lyle Foster, and Oswin Appollis from the penalty spot. Zimbabwe fought back valiantly, featuring a remarkable 35-yard equalizer from Tawanda Maswanhise and benefiting from an own goal by South Africa’s Aubrey Modiba that leveled the score at 2-2. A crucial moment came when Zimbabwe's Marvelous Nakamba made an impressive goalkeeper-style save but subsequently handled a shot that resulted in the penalty awarded to South Africa.
Meanwhile, Egypt, having already secured the top position in Group B, rested all their key players and played out a 0-0 draw with Angola. The Egyptian side made eleven changes from their previous victory, indicating their strong position in the group. Angola ended the group third with two points and now face an anxious wait to see if their points tally will be sufficient to qualify as one of the best four third-placed teams, depending on other groups’ outcomes.
South Africa's performance not only secures their progression in this tournament but also confirms their qualification for the 2026 World Cup, marking a significant achievement for the team.
