South Africa Survive Late Scare to Join Egypt in Round of 16 from Group B.

South Africa AFCON 2025 knockout

Bafana Bafana have advanced to the knockout stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, sealing their spot with a hard-fought 3-2 win over neighbors Zimbabwe at the Stade de Marrakech on Monday, December 29, 2025.

Hugo Broos’ side entered the final Group B match needing at least a draw to progress but delivered an entertaining five-goal thriller to finish second behind already-qualified Egypt (who played out a 0-0 draw with Angola in the simultaneous fixture).

Lyle Foster was among the scorers for South Africa, with the team showing resilience despite Zimbabwe’s spirited fightback. The victory ensures Bafana’s place in the Round of 16, marking a positive step in their campaign after a narrow loss to Egypt earlier.

Meanwhile, Angola and Zimbabwe are eliminated from Group B contention. South Africa’s progression adds to the early qualifiers, joining the likes of Nigeria, Egypt, and Algeria in the last 16.

The Pharaohs topped the group unbeaten, resting stars like Mohamed Salah in their goalless draw. Bafana now await the full group stage conclusion to learn their knockout opponent.

Drama, goals, and qualification – classic AFCON! Well done, Bafana Bafana.