VAR, own goal, blunders galore… South Africa qualified for the round of 16 of the CAN after a festival of errors

Meatballs on meatballs. South Africa, coached by Belgian Hugo Broos, laboriously dominated Zimbabwe (3-2) on Monday in Marrakech in a game punctuated by several blunders. Bafana Bafana are qualified for the round of 16 of CAN 2025.

In Marrakech, in an almost empty stadium but under the eyes of rapper Youssoupha, the South Africans, third in the last African Cup, were on a favorable ballot to reach the final phase of the Moroccan edition.

Lyle Foster’s partners have also started the game with a bang. On an attack on the left side, Tshepang Moremi moves back into the axis, rolls his shot and sees Zimbabwean defender Gerald Takwara score against his side (1-0, 6th). Far from giving up, Zimbabwe, virtually eliminated, maintained hope ten minutes later thanks to a personal exploit from Tawanda Maswanhise (1-1, 19th).

South Africa gets by thanks to VAR

A new error by the Zimbabwean defense – a poorly adjusted header from Divine Lunga to his goalkeeper – allowed former Monaco striker Lyle Foster to head his team back into the lead (2-1, 50th). Zimbabwe allowed itself to believe it again when Aubrey Modiba scored against his side with a header after a game of billiards in the South African area (2-2, 74th).

South Africa finally got the last word in this laborious match, with a new Zimbabwean gift and the help of the VAR which sanctioned a handball in the area from Marvelous Nakamba with a penalty converted by Oswin Appolis (3-2, 82nd).

She nevertheless joins Egypt in the round of 16, where she will face the second of group F (Cameroon, Ivory Coast or Mozambique). Qualified and first in their group after their draw at the same time against Angola, the Pharaohs will face one of the four best third-placed teams. It will not be Angola, third in this group B, which with two points will have difficulty getting there. Zimbabwe, 4th, is already eliminated.