Historic AFCON start for Bafana Bafana ends 21-year wait with victory over Angola

South Africa had a history-making Africa Cup of Nations opener on Monday, 22 December.

Bafana Bafana ended a 21-year wait for an AFCON opening match victory with a 2-1 win over Angola in their first Group B match.

Football analyst Sizwe Mbebe notes the impressive performances of Oswin Appollis and Lyle Foster, who scored crucial goals.

The team’s ability to stay patient and composed under pressure also played a significant role.

“Appollis has been one of the outstanding players in the PSL, he seriously grabbed his opportunity joining Orlando Pirates and rising to the occasion… At the international level, no one expected him to fit in like a glove.”

He praises the team’s depth, adding that the exclusion of Themba Zwane is a sign of the squad’s strength.

Discipline and not relying on other teams to do the job will be important going forward.

“There is no relying on Zimbabwe to do a job; the job was to be done yesterday,” he says.

Next up for Bafana Bafana are the tournament’s most successful team, Egypt, on 26 December.

Mbebe says the team’s victory in Morocco has changed the conversation around and that a win against Egypt could make them a top contender.

“If South Africa beats Egypt, the conversation must change. We are no longer the team that was. We are already the only team that has beaten Morocco.”

To listen to Mbebe in conversation with CapeTalk’s Clarence Ford, click the audio player below: