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VAR finally on Bafana's side as dramatic win seals last-16 spot
Cape Times
|December 30, 2025
FINALLY, with the help of VAR, Lady Luck smiled on Bafana Bafana as they beat Zimbabwe 3-2 at Stade de Marrakech last night in their final AFCON group-stage match to qualify for the last 16.
WINGER Oswin Appollis scored a late penalty against Zimbabwe to seal Bafana Bafana's passage into the last 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations.
Oswin Appollis scored the winner from the penalty spot in the dying minutes after Bafana’s leads — established through Tshepang Moremi and Lyle Foster — were cancelled out by Tawanda Maswanhise and an own goal from Aubrey Modiba. Referee Mustapha Kechchaf awarded the spot-kick after consulting the VAR team and pitchside monitor, following the ball striking the hand of a Zimbabwean defender during an attempted clearance.
The VAR decision will please Bafana and their supporters after they felt robbed by two calls that went against them during their 1-0 loss to Egypt in Agadir, having previously beaten Angola 2-1 in the opener.
This story is from the December 30, 2025 edition of Cape Times.
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