2023 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations bronze medalists South Africa, sent a strong warning as they brushed aside Angola 2-1, in their Group B opener at the 35th edition of the biennial tournament staged on Monday evening at the 40,000-seater Grande Stade de Marrakech in the tourist city of Morocco .
Both sides employed similar tactics of high pressing game Monday from the onset
However,it was Bafana Bafana who drew first blood in the 17th minute through Oswin Appollis strike to give Hugo Broos’ side an early advantage after capitalizing on the Palancas Negras’defensive blunder.
Angola put on a strong fightback, dominating possession and threatening through set pieces, but were forced to wait until the 34th minute to draw the game level after Fredy’s in-swinging free-kick in the near post was flicked in by Show past Ronwein Williams, restoring parity.
Hugo Broos made changes in the 2nd stanza,introducing Tshepang Moremi,which renewed their resilience ,with Lyle Foster’s goal being ruled out for an offside.
The 1996 champions restored their lead 11 minutes from time through Foster,who latched onto Moremi’s neat pass, enough for the Rainbow Nation to bag all the three important points.
In the opening match of day two action in Morocco, Mali squandered a penalty as Zambia scored an equaliser deep in stoppage time to earn a point in a Group A encounter at the Mohammed V stadium in the commercial city of Casablanca.
South Africa will take on 7-time-time champions Egypt in their 2nd Group B match at the Stade d’Adrar in the port city of Agadir on Boxing Day, while Angola must avoid a defeat against Zimbabwe the same day to revive their hopes of progressing.
