Zimbabwe’s Warriors saw their hopes of reaching the Africa Cup of Nations Round of 16 for the first time in their history come to a painful end after a narrow defeat to South Africa, a result that left them bottom of the group at the conclusion of the group stage.
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South Africa started brightly, with Oswin Appollis and Sipho Mbule setting the early tempo and putting the Warriors under pressure. Their dominance paid off in the seventh minute when Tshepang Moremi’s effort took a deflection off Divine Lunga and crept into the net to give Bafana Bafana the lead.
The Warriors responded with renewed purpose and gradually grew into the contest, with Tawanda Maswanhise causing problems down the flank. His persistence was rewarded in the 19th minute when he surged past three defenders and finished calmly beyond Ronwen Williams to level the scores.
The teams went into the break locked at 1–1.
South Africa dictated much of the second-half tempo and restored their advantage when Lyle Foster intercepted a loose headed pass from Lunga before finishing clinically. Zimbabwe refused to fold and came close through Maswanhise, whose powerful effort from inside the box struck the upright.
The pressure eventually told in the 74th minute when Maswanhise’s shot was blocked by Williams and Aubrey Modiba turned the rebound into his own net to make it 2–2. The Warriors then had a golden chance to go ahead late on, but substitute Macaulay Bonne was denied in a one-on-one by another crucial save from Williams.
South Africa capitalised moments later as Warriors captain Marvelous Nakamba was penalised for handball, allowing Appollis to convert from the spot in the 81st minute and seal victory.
The result sent South Africa through to the Round of 16 alongside Egypt. Angola finished third in the group with two points following their goalless draw against Egypt, while Zimbabwe exited the tournament at the group stage.
