AFCON 2025/ Lyle Foster strike seals vital win for Bafana Bafana over Palancas Negras
Lyle Foster of South Africa celebrates his goal during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations game between South Africa and Angola at Marrakech Stadium in Morocco on 22 December 2025 ©Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
A moment of individual brilliance from Lyle Foster secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory for South Africa over Angola in their Africa Cup of Nations opener in Marrakech.
Oswin Appollis’s sharp 17th-minute finish had given Hugo Broos’s side an ideal start, but Angola grew into the match, equalizing before halftime through Show’s clever flick from a free-kick.
The Palancas Negras dominated possession for large spells, forcing Bafana Bafana onto the back foot.
However, a tactical substitution by Broos reignited the intensity of South Africa in the second half. After striking the woodwork and having a goal disallowed, the pressure finally told.
The winner arrived with 11 minutes remaining. Forced from a high press, the ball found Foster, who curled a stunning right-footed finish into the top corner, sending the South African bench into raptures.
The result marks a confident start for a team on an upward trajectory, providing crucial momentum in a tightly contested Group B.
