Zimbabwe Knocked Out Of AFCON After 3–2 Loss To South Africa

Zimbabwe’s AFCON campaign came to a heartbreaking end on Monday night after a 3–2 defeat to South Africa in Marrakesh, with a late penalty sealing the Warriors’ exit from the tournament.

Oswin Appollis kept his nerve from the spot with 10 minutes to play to hand Bafana Bafana the win and confirm second place in Group B, dumping their southern African rivals out of the competition.

South Africa finished the group on six points, one behind winners Egypt, with both sides advancing to the last 16. Angola ended third on two points after a goalless draw with Egypt.

The match itself was open, entertaining and could easily have gone either way. South Africa struck first inside seven minutes when Tshepang Moremi’s effort took a wicked deflection off Divine Lunga and looped into the net for his first international goal.

Zimbabwe responded superbly 12 minutes later with one of the goals of the tournament. Tawanda Maswanhise picked up the ball well outside the box, glided past defenders and fired a low shot beyond Ronwen Williams to make it 1–1.

The game went into the break level, but South Africa regained the lead five minutes into the second half.

A loose-headed back-pass from Lunga caught out goalkeeper Washington Arubi, allowing Lyle Foster to nip in and nod home.

Once again, Zimbabwe refused to lie down. Maswanhise continued to cause problems and came close before finally levelling in the 73rd minute, when his shot was saved by Williams but deflected off Aubrey Modiba and into the net for an own goal.

The Warriors sensed a famous win and even had a golden chance to go ahead late on, only for Williams to deny substitute Macaulay Bonne in a one-on-one.

That miss proved costly. Moments later, Zimbabwe captain Marvelous Nakamba was penalised for handball after making a diving, goalkeeper-style block inside the box.

Appollis stepped up and calmly converted, crushing Zimbabwe’s hopes of reaching the knockout stages for the first time.

South Africa, who finished third at the last AFCON and have already qualified for the 2026 World Cup, showed quality going forward through Moremi, Foster and Appollis, but coach Hugo Broos will be worried by how easily his side was opened up at the back.

Earlier in the day, Egypt rested all their key players but still extended their unbeaten run, drawing 0–0 with Angola to finish top of Group B on seven points.

Having already secured qualification, the Pharaohs made 11 changes and left stars such as Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush on the sidelines.

For Zimbabwe, the defeat confirmed a bottom-place finish in the group and another painful near-miss at AFCON, despite a brave and attacking display that deserved more than nothing.

More: Al Jazeera