Lyle Foster’s beauty hands Bafana Bafana winning start at AFCON 2025

Published on by

Lyle Foster’s beauty hands Bafana Bafana winning start at AFCON 2025

Lyle Foster scored a brilliant winning goal as Bafana Bafana started their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a 2-1 win over Angola in Marrakech on Monday.

Hugo Broos’ men took on the Palancas Negras under pressure to start with a flourish, after losing their AFCON 2023 opener, and got off to a great start as Oswin Appollis gave them a 20th minute lead with a well-taken goal.

Sipho Mbule flicked the ball into the path of Foster, who got out of the way for Appollis to strike the ball, and the Orlando Pirates winger slotted home from a low shot.

However, the Angolans would equalise in the 35th minute to peg Bafana Bafana back when Show connected well with Fredy’s ball from a free-kick.

Missed chances from both teams

Before that, there was plenty of action at both sides of the pitch with Ronwen Williams making a second minute save from Gelson Dala’s header. Teboho Mokoena then had a shot from distance go over the bar after nine minutes.  

Two minutes later, Mokoena found Foster with a great pass in the box but the striker headed directly at the goalkeeper while Fredy nearly scored for Angola with a well-taken volley that drew out a good save from Williams, who punched the ball out for a corner.

In the 28th minute, Williams pulled off perhaps the best save of the game, showing great reflexes to deny Fredy from close range.

VAR denies Moremi debut goal

Bafana Bafana thought they had scored a second when substitute Tshepang Moremi slotted home after a great defence-splitting pass from Mbule just after the break but the goal was ruled out after a VAR check found Foster in an offside position just before it was scored.  

Foster 1

That was in the 51st minute and seven minutes later, Mbekezeli Mbokazi nearly scored a goal of the tournament contender. The defender was allowed space and time on the ball and he unleashed what was an unstoppable shot that hit the crossbar with the goalkeeper beaten.

A few moments later, Bafana Bafana had a penalty shout when Khuliso Mudau went down in the box but the referee waved them away.  

How did Bafana Bafana win it?

Both sides kept going for it, in what was an entertaining encounter, and when it looked like it would end in a draw, Foster pulled off the spectacular.

A neat exchange of passes on the edge of the box saw Moremi put the ball on the plate for Foster and the Burnley striker curled in a beautiful shot past Angola goalkeeper Hugo Marques for 2-1 in the 79th minute.

Bafana Bafana held on to win the game and make a statement of intent as they moved top of Group B with three points before Egypt faced Zimbabwe later on Monday.  

<!-- Author Start -->Joel Oliver<!-- Author End -->

Joel Oliver

Author

Joel Oliver is a seasoned multimedia sports journalist with a rich background in covering diverse football stories and events in South Africa and beyond.
His extensive coverage spans subjects touching on the PSL, with a focus on the Big Three (Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs & Mamelodi Sundowns), Bafana Bafana and Banyana Banyana.

You May Also Like