A dramatic late penalty from Oswin Appollis sealed a nerve-shredding 3-2 victory for South Africa over Zimbabwe in the Africa Cup of Nations, a result that sends Bafana Bafana into the tournament's knockout stages and ends their neighbours' campaign.
Rollercoaster Encounter Decided by Late Spot-Kick
The crucial Group B clash on Monday 29 December 2025 was a match of relentless momentum swings. South Africa took the lead twice, only for Zimbabwe to fight back on both occasions. Tshepang Moremi opened the scoring for South Africa, but Zimbabwe found a response to level the match. Lyle Foster then put South Africa ahead once more, demonstrating their attacking threat, yet again Zimbabwe showed resilience to equalise and set up a tense finale.
The decisive moment arrived with just seven minutes of normal time remaining. The referee pointed to the spot after adjudging Zimbabwe's Marvelous Nakamba to have handled the ball inside the area. Under immense pressure, Oswin Appollis, wearing the number 7 shirt, stepped up and coolly converted the penalty, sending the South African fans into raptures and breaking Zimbabwean hearts.
Group B Outcome Sealed
This vital win guaranteed South Africa's progression from the group phase. For Zimbabwe, the defeat meant elimination from the competition. The other match in the group saw Angola play out a goalless draw with an Egypt side that had already secured qualification. That result leaves Angola's hopes of advancing hanging by a thread, dependent on other results.
The victory represents a significant achievement for South Africa, who survived a major scare to book their place in the next round. The team showed character to regain the lead after each Zimbabwe equaliser, culminating in Appollis's ice-cool finish from twelve yards. The focus for South Africa now shifts to the knockout stages, where they will aim to continue their journey in the tournament.
