Foster's Stunner Ends 21-Year Wait: South Africa Edge Angola in Tense AFCON Opener

Lyle Foster's sublime, curling strike from outside the box secured a dramatic 2-1 victory for South Africa over Angola on Monday, marking the first time in 21 years the nation has won its opening match at the Africa Cup of Nations.

In the tense Group B clash in Marrakesh, South Africa seemed to just deserve the nervy win, having also hit the crossbar and had a goal disallowed by VAR. It was Oswin Appollis who opened the scoring on 21 minutes, showing slick footwork in the box before slotting the ball into the bottom corner.

Angola, however, fought back and found an equalizer before halftime. On the 35-minute mark, a free-kick from Fredy was expertly steered into the net by a deft touch from Show, leveling the score at 1-1.

The decisive moment arrived in the 79th minute. With the game on a knife's edge, Burnley forward Lyle Foster was set up 20 yards from goal and unleashed a picture-perfect shot that soared into the top corner, giving the Bafana Bafana a crucial three points.

It was a gritty, workmanlike performance from a South African side that, according to coach Hugo Broos, functions as a "well-oiled machine" despite lacking the star power of rivals. Foster is their only player in England's Premier League, yet the team's cohesion proved enough to start their campaign on the right foot.

Daka's Last-Gasp Header Rescues Zambia

In an earlier Group A match, Zambia's Patson Daka scored a spectacular diving header two minutes into stoppage time to snatch a 1-1 draw against Mali. Mali looked set for victory after Lassine Sinayoko's 62nd-minute goal, but Daka's late heroics in Casablanca ensured the points were shared.