Afcon 2025 LIVE: South Africa join Egypt in last 16 as group stages reaches thrilling climax | OneFootball

Close

AFCON 2025: Algeria leads Group E, Cameroon and Ivory Coast neck and neck [Football Now]

South Africa survived a scare from Zimbabwe to seal their place in the 2025 Afcon knockout stages, joining Group B winners Egypt following a thrilling climax.

Bafana Bafana dominated the early stages and took a seventh-minute lead through Tshepang Moremi’s deflected strike, only for a stunning individual effort from Tawanda Maswanhise to draw Zimbabwe level.

A defensive catastrophe allowed Burnley striker Lyle Foster to re-establish South Africa’s lead before defender Aubrey Modiba fell victim to a freak own goal, once again cancelling out their lead.

Report: South Africa survive Zimbabwe scare to join Egypt into Afcon knockouts

A late Oswin Appollis penalty fired South Africa to a 3-2 victory over Zimbabwe and into the knockout stages at the Africa Cup of Nations.

South Africa went ahead through Tshepang Moremi's deflected shot which wrong-footed goalkeeper Washington Arubi as it looped into the net, before Zimbabwe equalised when Tawanda Maswanhise skipped past two defenders and lashed the ball home.

Lyle Foster restored the lead early in the second half with a header over the advancing Arubi, but after Ronwen Williams saved Maswanhise's effort Aubrey Modiba turned the rebound into his own net to draw Zimbabwe level again.

But seven minutes from time, when Marvelous Nakamba was adjudged to have handled in the penalty area, Appollis tucked away the spot-kick to book their passage through and send Zimbabwe home.

Here’s what went down as Group B reached its climax:

Will Castle29 December 2025 20:00

South Africa survive Zimbabwe scare

(AFP/Getty)

(AFP via Getty Images)

(AFP via Getty Images)