Lyle Foster Secures South Africa Victory Over Angola in AFCON Opener

Burnley forward Lyle Foster netted the decisive goal in the 79th minute, helping South Africa to a narrow 2-1 triumph against Angola in Marrakesh on Monday. This marked their first opening win in the Africa Cup of Nations for 21 years.

Following their 2004 victory over Benin, Bafana Bafana had managed just two draws and four defeats in subsequent tournament debuts across various editions of the continents top football competition.

The Group B encounter unfolded in three clear stages. South Africa began strongly, with Oswin Appollis finding the net on 21 minutes in front of a modest attendance at the 42,000-capacity venue.

Angola dominated the latter part of the first half and Show restored parity. South Africa then regrouped to take control after the break, allowing Foster to deliver the winner and claim all three points.

Group rivals Egypt, led by skipper Mohamed Salah, face Zimbabwe later in the coastal town of Agadir.

South Africa pressed forward repeatedly early on, yet their keeper Ronwen Williams needed to act swiftly on 15 minutes to deflect a strike from Angolas captain Fredy Ribeiro.

Appollis put Bafana Bafana ahead shortly after, seizing the ball from a Khuliso Mudau delivery and slotting it low past the 39-year-old custodian Hugo Marques into the bottom corner.

Williams proved vital once more around the 30-minute mark, pulling off an outstanding close-range stop on a header from Gelson Dala.

Angola gained the upper hand, and it was little surprise when Show, a prominent figure using a nickname like many in Angolan football, drew level after 35 minutes.

Tempers flare

Siyabonga Ngezana narrowly avoided a booking for tripping Dala, yet the lack of discipline ultimately hurt them on a chilly night in Moroccos heartland.

The resulting set-piece was whipped low towards the South African goal area, where Show guided it neatly into the far corner.

Tensions rose as the period wore on, leading the Sudanese official to warn Angolas To Carneiro, followed by South Africas Aubrey Modiba and Sphephelo Sithole.

At the interval, as the sides left the field, Angolas coach Frenchman Patrice Beaumelle could count himself the more content, with his team unfortunate not to lead.

South Africa believed they had retaken the advantage early in the second half, as replacement Tshepang Moremi, who had come on for the subdued Mohau Nkota, drilled a shot beyond Marques and into the goal.

However, the celebrations halted abruptly after a VAR check revealed that Foster, the only South African from Europes elite leagues in the team, had strayed just offside.

South Africa kept pushing for another, with defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi briefly joining the attack to rifle a shot past Marques, only for it to strike the bar.

Having spent much of the first half defending, South Africa now became the driving force, surging ahead repeatedly to chase the advantage.

A quick Bafana break allowed Moremi to speed beyond a marker before laying the ball off to Foster, who unfortunately blazed over from a promising position.

Foster made up for it with 11 minutes remaining, unleashing a strike from outside the area that left Marques helpless and restored South Africas lead.

After snatching an Angolan pass and exchanging two sharp passes, the forward notched his fourth goal in six outings.