‘That is what I do’ – Appollis explains technique behind Bafana’s AFCON-opening goal

Bafana Bafana forward Oswin Appollis has revealed the split-second discussion he had with Lyle Foster before scoring the opening goal of their 2025 Africa of Nations.

Appollis found the target in the 21^st minute, slotting home a low shot to break the deadlock in South Africa’s 2-1 win over Angola in Marrakech on Monday.

The goal involved three players in a matter of seconds as Sipho Mbule flicked the ball behind in the path of Foster, who got out of the way to allow Appollis a clean strike between the legs of the Angola defenders.

Appollis says the goal was down to the quick communication he had with the Burnley striker, who would have messed up the move or been closed down by the defenders, with his decision to let the ball roll past him giving his teammate time and space to shoot.

Appollis reveals crucial shout at Foster

“That is what I do,” Appollis jokingly said on SuperSport TV when asked about the goal. “It was a nice goal you know.. I shouted at Lyles to leave the ball and he left it to me and I just took a touch inside,” said the Orlando Pirates winger, who drilled an unstoppable right-footed finish into the bottom corner.

Show equalized for Angola in the 35^th minute but Foster curled in a beauty 11 minutes from time to hand Hugo Broos’ men a winning start.

It was the sixth Bafana Bafana goal for Appollis, who is now one of the first names on the team sheet, and will play a crucial role at AFCON 2025, having been a peripheral figure that was given just 35 minutes at the 2023 edition.

Appollis, who scored two goals and weighed in with four assists in the AFCON 2025 qualifiers, has now scored in his last three games for Bafana Bafana and also added two assists over that period.