In a COSAFA derby, South Africa edged Angola 2-1 at the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AfCON) group opening group B fixture at the Grand Stade De Marrakech on Monday.

With both teams aiming to take control of the encounter, the match lived up to an exciting and entertaining regional affair.

Twenty minutes into the first stanza, Bafana Bafana took the lead through Oswin Appollis nice finish.

15 minutes later Angola, last AfCON quarter finalists, equalized through Manuel Cafumana, who slid it in from a low cross strike, setting the match on lit before the break.

Lyle Foster’s goal in the 79th minute made the difference for the 1996 AfCON winners.

South Africa and Egypt have three points each, while Angola and Zimbabwe sit at the bottom with zero points following their poor start.

Reacting to the result, Angola head coach Patrice Beaumelle remains optimistic despite the team’s slow start.

“Obviously, we are a little disappointed to lose our opening match, because when you start a competition, it is always important to pick up points,” he said.

“We made two mistakes, and against a team of this level, every mistake is punished immediately. On our side, we must keep our heads up and move forward, because we still have two matches to play,” added Patrice.

Angola are making their 10th appearance at the AFCON tournament and are in search of their first AFCON trophy.

Palancas Negras will face Zimbabwe on Friday, 26th December.

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