Bafana Bafana head into their final TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of
Nations Group B match on Monday with a clear mission: avoid defeat to secure
passage to the knockout rounds.
Hugo Broos’ side faces Zimbabwe in Marrakesh knowing a draw is enough to
guarantee a place in the last 16, thanks to their superior head-to-head
record over Angola. This comes after a narrow 1-0 defeat to group winners
Egypt on Friday, decided by a contentious Mohamed Salah penalty.
The tournament’s tie-breaker rules provide South Africa with a crucial
safety net. Should they draw with Zimbabwe and Angola also draw with Egypt,
both teams would finish on four points. In this scenario, Bafana would
advance because of their opening 2-1 victory over Angola, which serves as
the primary tie-breaker.
The group standings set the stage for a tense finale. Egypt have already
secured top spot with six points, while South Africa sit second on three.
Angola and Zimbabwe are tied on one point each after their 1-1 draw on
Friday, leaving all three teams still in contention for the second
qualification spot.
While a win for South Africa would be ideal, the mathematics are clear: a
loss to Zimbabwe, coupled with an Angola victory or draw against Egypt,
would see Bafana Bafana eliminated.
With their destiny firmly in their own hands, the equation for Broos and his
squad is straightforward—hold firm against Zimbabwe and secure a spot in the
next round.
