South Africa 2-1 Angola: Foster seals victory in Africa Cup of Nations opener

Burnley striker Lyle Foster was South Africa’s matchwinner in their 2-1 victory over Angola at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Having claimed third place at the 2024 edition of the tournament, South Africa will be confident in their chances of a deep run in Morocco as they aim to win AFCON for the second time.

However, they needed a late effort from Foster to get over the line against Angola at Stade de Marrakech on Monday.

Foster fired home in the 79th minute to put South Africa back in front, with Angola having equalised through Show’s clever finish in the 35th minute.

South Africa, who also hit the woodwork through Mbekezeli Mbokazi, had struck first in the 21st minute as Oswin Appollis kept up his fine form for his country with a crisp effort into the bottom-left corner.

The victory took South Africa, at least temporarily, top of Group B, ahead of Mohamed Salah’s Egypt taking on Zimbabwe.

And so it ends!!!
We get our AFCON campaign off to a winning start. We march on!!#BafanaPride pic.twitter.com/vKT3XluVpU

— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) December 22, 2025

Data Debrief: Appollis strikes again

South Africa kept more clean sheets than any other team at the last edition of AFCON (five), though Angola actually created the better chances this time out, registering 0.97 expected goals (xG) to their opponents’ 0.39.

Yet South Africa, who like Angola managed four shots on target, were simply more clinical. Foster, who provided the assist for South Africa’s opener, demonstrated his Premier League class with a superb finish, while Appollis is a real danger man.

He was directly involved in six goals during the qualifying phase for the 2025 AFCON, a tally bettered only by Morocco’s Brahim Diaz (seven). Appollis had two shots and led South Africa for touches in the opposition box (three).

South Africa have now faced Angola 10 times at AFCON and remain unbeaten against them.