Bafana Bafana laboured into the 2025 AFCON Round of 16 following a narrow 3-2 victory over Zimbabwe in their final Group B tie at the Stade de Marrakech on Monday.
It was a dramatic evening with South Africa on the edge, especially towards the end of the match as the Warriors threatened to spoil their tournament. But Hugo Broos’ men held their nerves to secure passage into the last-16 while placed second in Group B below leaders Egypt.
Having accumulated six points in this group campaign, they go to the next phase with just a point fewer than the Pharaohs who drew 0-0 with Angola on the same evening.
Zimbabwe finished at the foot of the table with just a point as they head back home together with third-placed Angola.
While Broos made just one change from the team that started against Egypt by bringing in Sipho Mbule for Thalente Mbatha, his opposite number Mario Marinica introduced four new men in his line-up.
That the evening was going to be an eventful one was glaring as early as five minutes into the contest. Zimbabwe goalkeeper Washington Arubi was forced to make a goalline save off an Oswin Appollis low shot.
But two minutes later, Bafana got the breakthrough when Tshepang Moremi’s effort was deflected by Mamelodi Sundowns defender Divine Lunga to beat Arubi.
Tawanda Maswanhise then repaid Marinica’s faith to start him for the first time in this tournament by levelling matters for the Warriors on 19 minutes. Some individual brilliance saw the Motherwell striker FC weave his way past Sphelele Sithole, Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Aubrey Modiba before unleashing a stinger that gave Bafana captain Ronwen Williams no chance.
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Maswanhise’s goal appeared to have disoriented Bafana who lost their structure and were no longer posing the threat as in the early stages of the game.
Zimbabwe then almost went ahead on the half-hour mark, but an unmarked Munashe Garan’anga misdirected his header from inside the box after getting at the end of a Jonah Fabisch freekick. With five minutes to go to halftime, Arubi denied Mbule’s powerful shot with a fine save.
It turned out to be a difficult evening for Lunga who again gifted Bafana a goal, this time having his weak headed back pass intercepted by Lyle Foster who beat Arubi five minutes into the second half.
Maswanhine almost returned to punish South Africa but had his effort crash against the upright on 64 minutes. The Motherwell FC star continued to shake Bafana and this time Williams’ attempted clearance of his shot bounced off Modiba for an own goal in the 74th minute.
But Bafana then reclaimed their lead with eight minutes remaining when Appollis converted from the penalty spot after Marvelous Nakamba had handled inside the box.
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