Zimbabwe vs South Africa LIVE
South Africa reached the knockout stages of the Africa Cup of Nations with a hard-fought victory over Zimbabwe in Marrakesh. Bafana Bafana emerged 3-2 victors at the Marrakesh Stadium, in a game filled with drama. Hugo Broos’ side were ahead inside seven minutes when Tshepang Moremi notched his first goal for his country after a neat, sweeping move from the South Africans, and the winger benefitted from a kind deflection off Zimbabwe left-back Divine Lunga to help his effort loop over the helpless Washington Arubi in the Warriors’ net.
Mario Marinica’s side were bottom of Group B at the start of the day, but did not play like it at all, and they equalised against the run of play through Tawanda Maswanhise’s superb solo strike on 19 minutes. The right winger weaved in and out of flailing South African challenges before unleashing an arrowed effort into the far corner beyond Ronwen Williams. Level at the interval with both goalkeepers tested on numerous occasions, it was Bafana Bafana who eked their noses ahead once more, as Lyle Foster put his head in where it hurts to nod home a bouncing ball over the top, beating the onrushing Arubi to it with five minutes played of the second period.
Zimbabwe were level once more in bizarre circumstances as Maswanhise was denied by the legs of Williams after a superb through pass from Tawanda Chirewa, and the ball cannoned off the unfortunate Aubrey Modiba into his own net. His blushes were spared, however, when VAR spotted a diving handball from Zimbabwean captain Marvelous Nakamba late on, and Oswin Appollis stroked home from the spot to give Broos’ men all three points on a testing afternoon. They finish second in Group B behind Egypt, and will play the winners of Group A in the first knockout round.
Zimbabwe vs South Africa highlights
- GOAL! Appollis scores third from spot
- GOAL! Zimbabwe level in bizarre circumstances
- GOAL! Foster puts Bafana Bafana ahead again
- GOAL! Maswanhise levels with sublime equaliser
- GOAL! Moremi opens scoring via deflection
That's all, folks!
18:11 , Oli GentThanks for joining us on Standard Sport, what a game that was!
FT: Zimbabwe 2-3 South Africa
17:57 , Oli GentThere we have it. What a game! South Africa are through.
Thanks for joining us on Standard Sport, be sure to come back very soon for even more LIVE AFCON action.
Zimbabwe 2-3 South Africa
17:54 , Oli Gent90+6 mins: Corner, South Africa, but they are in no rush to take this. The referee is hurrying them up, however.
Zimbabwe 2-3 South Africa
17:51 , Oli Gent90+4 mins: All hands on deck now for South Africa as Zimbabwe bang on the door for an equaliser. Takwara is lining up these long throw missiles...
Zimbabwe 2-3 South Africa
17:49 , Oli Gent90+1 mins: Seven added minutes.
Zimbabwe 2-3 South Africa
17:47 , Oli Gent89 mins: Fabisch comes off for Zimbabwe after a strong showing in midfield. He’s replaced by 16-year-old Tadiwa Chakuchichi.
Zimbabwe 2-3 South Africa
17:45 , Oli Gent87 mins: Mbule is replaced by Mbatha.
Zimbabwe 2-3 South Africa
17:43 , Oli Gent85 mins: How do Zimbabwe respond? Do they have anything left?
Goal! Zimbabwe 2-3 South Africa
17:40 , Oli Gent82 mins: South Africa are back in front, and it’s Appollis who strikes from 12 yards! Arubi stares him down, but the winger has ice running through his veins as he strokes it past the veteran keeper. 3-2.
Zimbabwe 2-2 South Africa
17:39 , Oli Gent81 mins: Penalty! Bafana Bafana have a spot kick, with the decision made by the Moroccan officials in the VAR trailer. What was Nakamba thinking?
Zimbabwe 2-2 South Africa
17:38 , Oli Gent80 mins: South Africa are appealing for a handball as the shot comes in from Mokoena as Nakamba throws himself at it. It looks as though it skimmed his head in the first replay... but the second shows an outstretched hand! VAR are looking at this...
Zimbabwe 2-2 South Africa
17:35 , Oli Gent78 mins: A change apiece as Emmanuel Jalai is on for the Warriors, replacing Garan’anga, and Mohau Nkota is on for Moremi.
Goal! Zimbabwe 2-2 South Africa
17:33 , Oli Gent74 mins: Zimbabwe are level once more, in bizarre circumstances! A goal out of nothing. What a pass from Chirewa, finding Maswanhise down the right. He looks to finish under Williams, and it cannons off the keeper’s foot and onto Modiba, and into the net! What drama!
Zimbabwe 1-2 South Africa
17:32 , Oli Gent73 mins: Lyle Foster is brought off, with Makgopa replacing him up top.
Zimbabwe 1-2 South Africa
17:29 , Oli Gent70 mins: Free kick, South Africa. Good play from Mbule to shield the ball from Nakamba and win the set piece.
Zimbabwe 1-2 South Africa
17:23 , Oli Gent64 mins: Off the post! What a chance for an equaliser! Maswanhise comes within a lick of paint to his second of the afternoon as he strikes one off the woodwork!
Zimbabwe 1-2 South Africa
17:22 , Oli Gent62 mins: Three changes for Zimbabwe. Bonne, Zindoga, and Chirewa are all on for Dube, Antonio, and Msendami.
Zimbabwe 1-2 South Africa
17:17 , Oli Gent58 mins: Close! Some lovely interplay from Bafana Bafana down the left as Appollis and Foster combine on the edge of the box. The centre-forward lays it off for the winger who strikes, but Arubi gets down smartly to stop.
Zimbabwe 1-2 South Africa
17:14 , Oli Gent56 mins: Chance here for Zimbabwe as Fabisch lines up a corner. The delivery is deep, as Garan’anga challenges at the far post, but the referee gives a free kick to the defending team.
Zimbabwe 1-2 South Africa
17:12 , Oli Gent53 mins: A real kick in the teeth for Zimbabwe, who had started the second period so well.
An early goal for South Africa as it was in the first half, but can they now protect their lead?
Goal! Zimbabwe 1-2 South Africa
17:10 , Oli Gent50 mins: It’s there, and South Africa are ahead once more. It’s Lyle Foster, and he’s rewarded for his bravery. A real mistake from Arubi, as the bouncing ball isn’t dealt with by the Zimbabweans. Foster doesn’t give up, puts his head in where it hurts, and nods home!
Zimbabwe 1-1 South Africa
17:06 , Oli Gent47 mins: A change for South Africa, with Bathusi Aubaas on for Spheohelo Sithole in midfield.
Kick off!
17:04 , Oli Gent46 mins: We’re back underway.
HT: Zimbabwe 1-1 South Africa
16:48 , Oli GentThere's the interval, and it's been pretty even since the equaliser. A frustrating first half for Bafana Bafana that they were dominating before the equaliser, but they go in level. What will the second half have in store?
Zimbabwe 1-1 South Africa
16:46 , Oli Gent45+1 mins: Three added minutes.
Zimbabwe 1-1 South Africa
16:42 , Oli Gent43 mins: We’re nearing the break and are locked in at 1-1 here. South Africa have retaken then initiative and are knocking on the door, but just cannot find that breakthrough that they crave.
Zimbabwe 1-1 South Africa
16:42 , Oli Gent41 mins: Close! That’s what I was talking about pre-match. Mbule drops deep, picks up the ball and space and unleashes a dipping effort from range, but it’s straight at Arubi, who watches it all the way and beats it away.
Zimbabwe 1-1 South Africa
16:40 , Oli Gent40 mins: A great run from Modiba down the left looking for Foster in the middle, but the striker’s header is tame and straight into the hands of Arubi.
Zimbabwe 1-1 South Africa
16:36 , Oli Gent37 mins: The game is opening up now with both sides throwing caution to the wind. Appollis is back on the ball, looking to win the corner off Garan’anga, and he does so. What can South Africa do from this set piece?
Zimbabwe 1-1 South Africa
16:34 , Oli Gent34 mins: A needless yellow for Mbule, who fells Msendami in his own half. A silly foul.
Zimbabwe 1-1 South Africa
16:30 , Oli Gent29 mins: Chance here for Zimbabwe with a free kick on the corner of the Bafana Bafana box. Fabisch swings it in... and Garan’anga makes contact... but nods over! Big chance!
Zimbabwe 1-1 South Africa
16:27 , Oli Gent27 mins: Free kick, South Africa. Mbule draws the foul from Nakamba in his own half, with the Luton midfielder a bit too excited in the challenge for the bouncing ball.
Zimbabwe 1-1 South Africa
16:23 , Oli Gent23 mins: Hugo Broos is cutting a frustrated figure on the South Africa bench. I don’t think he was too happy with his side’s defending for that goal.
Goal! Zimbabwe 1-1 South Africa
16:20 , Oli Gent19 mins: It’s there, and Zimbabwe are level against the run of play! Where has that come from?
It is an absolutely brilliant run from Maswanhise, who weaves his way through the Bafana Bafana defence, and slams one past Ronwen Williams!
Zimbabwe 0-1 South Africa
16:19 , Oli Gent18 mins: Close! South Africa sweep forward on the counter as Foster breaks into the channel, and feeds Moremi who has drifted onto the left. He looks for Mokoena with the cutback, but it’s cleared.
Zimbabwe 0-1 South Africa
16:16 , Oli Gent16 mins: It’s been so comfortable for South Africa so far. Zimbabwe just haven’t been able to get a sniff.
Zimbabwe 0-1 South Africa
16:12 , Oli Gent12 mins: It’s all South Africa as they stream forwards once more, with Foster finding Appollis outside of him. The dangerous winger looks to cut in and strike, but it’s charged down well.
As it stands!
16:11 , Oli GentSouth Africa will be going through to the knockout stages if things stay like this, with Zimbabwe bottom of the group.
Zimbabwe 0-1 South Africa
16:10 , Oli Gent10 mins: That is a well-deserved lead for Bafana Bafana. They’ve been all over the Warriors from the off, and are pinging it around with great confidence.
Goal! Zimbabwe 0-1 South Africa
16:08 , Oli Gent7 mins: It’s there, and South Africa are ahead. It has been coming, and Moremi has it after a wicked deflection. It’s worked nicely from left to right through Foster to Moremi, and it deflects Lunga and over Arubi for the opener!
Zimbabwe 0-0 South Africa
16:07 , Oli Gent6 mins: Good save! Arubi has to get down and be alert as Appollis takes it on the half-turn and unleashes a snap-shot, looking to catch out the Zimbabwe goalkeeper at his near post, but Arubi is equal to it.
Zimbabwe 0-0 South Africa
16:06 , Oli Gent5 mins: Appollis has started well down the South Africa left, seeing plenty of the ball as Bafana Bafana look to get him and Mbule on it at every opportunity.
Zimbabwe 0-0 South Africa
16:03 , Oli Gent4 mins: Immediate South Africa pressure from the off as I make a tactical observation for you. Galloway is actually in the middle of the park for Zimbabwe, alongside Nakamba as part of the midfield trio.
Kick off!
16:00 , Oli Gent1 min: We’re underway.
Five minute warning!
15:55 , Oli GentThe players are on their way out, time for the anthems.
AFCON: All you need to know
15:50 , Oli GentHow are the top teams doing? What do the groups look like?
Who is playing who?
Angola vs Egypt live!
15:40 , Oli GentAlso today!
You can follow all the latest from Angola vs Egypt on Standard Sport.
South Africa analysis
15:24 , Oli GentAs for Bafana Bafana, they are in a 4-2-3-1, with star striker Lyle Foster leading the line.
The Burnley forward is the main hope when it comes to scoring goals, while maverick wide man Oswin Appollis is their creative spark.
Tshepang Moremi impressed when they met Ghana last week in the final warm-up friendly before the tournament, and Sipho Mbule will buzz in and around Foster looking to support his centre-forward, while also dropping off and looking for opportunities to strike from range.
Team lineups analysis
15:22 , Oli GentLet’s go for the Zimbabweans first.
It looks like a 3-5-2 for Mario Marinica’s side, with Marvelous Nakamba in the middle of the midfield trio.
He will screen that back three, which features former Everton defender Brendan Galloway on the right.
Prince Dube is the creative outlet, and he will drop off main striker Tawanda Maswanhise in possession to get on the ball and look to make things happen.
Zimbabwe XI: Arubi; Garananga, Takwara, Galloway, Lunga; Fabisch, Nakamba; Dube, Msendami, Antonio; Tawanda
Subs: Chipezeze, Fusire, Padera, Bonne, Navaya, Mapisa, Chirewa, Murwira, Jalai, Mauchi, Mudimu, Wadi, Zindoga, Chakuchichi
South Africa XI: Williams; Mudau, Ngezana, Mbokazi, Modiba; Sithole, Mbule; Appollis, Mokoena, Moremi; Foster
Subs: Chaine, Goss, Ndamane, Mbatha, Mofokeng, Nkota, Mokwana, Aubaas, Kabini, Sibisi, Makgopa, Campbell, Matuludi
South Africa XI
14:59 , Alex YoungHere’s how Bafana Bafana line up!
Bafana Bafana starting 11 vs Zimbabwe#BafanaPride pic.twitter.com/fSb6dR3DUE
— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) December 29, 2025
Who needs what today?
14:55 , Alex YoungIt’s fairly simple for both teams.
Zimbabwe simply must win to reach the knockout stages for the first time in AFCON history.
It’s easier for South Africa, who need just a draw to go through after winning one of their opening two games.
As it stands
14:37 , Alex YoungHere’s how Group B looks ahead of today’s two deciders.
Score prediction
14:25 , Alex YoungSouth Africa did more than enough to earn at least a point against ten-man Egypt last time out and were ultimately left frustrated by some controversial refererring decisions.
Though, this fixture is difficult to predict given the stakes. Zimbabwe will be more than happy to let Bafana Bafana have the ball and hit them on the counter, but we think a lack of quality in attack will be their downfall.
South Africa to win, 2-1.
South Africa team news
14:12 , Alex YoungAfter making two changes to the team that beat Angola, Broos could hand recalls to Mohau Nkotaba and Sipho Mbule as Bafana Bafana are expected to be on the front foot in Marrakesh.
Despite a quiet outing against Egypt, Lyle Foster is expected to lead South Africa’s attack once again, while captain Ronwen Williams continues in between the posts.
Zimbabwe team news
14:05 , Alex YoungTeenage Hadebe is absent for Zimbabwe after picking up an injury in the draw with Angola. His replacement that day, Brendan Galloway, is expected to be handed a start in an otherwise unchanged back four.
Prince Dube and Knowledge Musona will be looking to deliver the goods as the Warriors hope to pip South Africa to a place in the round of 16.
Where to watch Zimbabwe vs South Africa
13:58 , Alex YoungEvery match of the tournament will be broadcast across Channel 4’s network.
Live stream: UK viewers will be able to stream the games on the Channel 4 Sport YouTube. Coverage is scheduled to start right before kick-off at 4pm GMT.
Welcome
13:52 , Alex YoungGood afternoon and welcome to the London Standard’s LIVE coverage of the Africa Cup of Nations clash between Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Both nations can still qualify for the knockout stage, setting this group-stage shootout up nicely.
Kick-off in Marrakesh is at 4pm. Stick with us.
