South Africa’s Bafana Bafana delivered a commanding performance in their Africa Cup of Nations dress rehearsal, dismantling Zambia 3-1 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The victory—South Africa’s 10th in 25 meetings against the Chipolopolo—signals rising confidence for coach Hugo Broos’ side as they gear up for the continental showdown in Morocco next month.
From the opening whistle, Bafana pressed with purpose, their attacking trio of Lyle Foster, Oswin Appollis, and Sipho Mbule terrorizing the Zambian backline. Appollis broke the deadlock in the 43rd minute, rifling home a low drive from the edge of the box to send the home crowd into raptures and hand South Africa a 1-0 halftime lead.
The second half belonged to Bafana. Mbule, the standout performer, turned provider again in the 62nd minute, curling a sublime ball from outside the area for Mohau Nkota to volley in and double the advantage to 2-0. Just six minutes later, midfielder Sphephelo Sithole rose highest to nod home a pinpoint cross, making it 3-0 and effectively sealing the points.
Zambia, also tuning up for AFCON Group C, showed flashes of promise. Forward Fashion Sakala nearly pulled one back early in the second half, his curling effort beating goalkeeper Sipho Chaine but clipping the post. Substitute Sabobo Banda did console with a tidy finish in stoppage time, but it was mere damage limitation.
Bafana could have added gloss, only for Zambian keeper Toaster Nsabata to claw away Nkota’s close-range effort in the 78th minute. Midfielder Teboho Mokoena, meanwhile, marked his 50th cap with a commanding display, earning plaudits from the South African Football Association (SAFA).
Broos, fresh off securing World Cup qualification for 2026, praised his charges post-match: “This wasn’t a friendly—it was a statement. We’re building momentum, and the boys showed hunger.” The result caps a strong week for South African football, following the women’s Banyana Banyana’s exploits.
With AFCON kicking off on December 21—where Bafana face Angola, Egypt, and Zimbabwe in Group B—this win provides the perfect tonic. Zambia, drawn against Senegal, DR Congo, and Uganda, will rue their finishing but take heart from their resilience.
Match Stats
| Team | Possession | Shots (On Target) | Corners | Fouls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 58% | 14 (7) | 6 | 11 |
| Zambia | 42% | 9 (3) | 4 | 13 |