Cameroon ended a seven-match winless run against South Africa with a deserved 2-1 victory to book their place in the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
South Africa started brightly and looked the sharper side in the opening stages, taking advantage of uncertainty in the Cameroon defence. Relebohile Mofokeng had the first clear chance of the match after capitalising on a defensive error, but the winger fired over the bar when through on goal.
Moments later, Lyle Foster thought he had given Bafana Bafana the lead with a well-taken angled finish. However, the assistant referee raised his flag, and a VAR review confirmed the striker was offside when the pass was played.
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Onazi Urges Super Eagles to Seize ‘Rare Chance’ at AFCON 2025 Former Nigeria midfielder Ogenyi Onazi has challenged the Super Eagles to make the most of what he describes as a rare opportunity at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, warning that failure to win the title would be a major disappointment for a squad filled with top-quality players. Nigeria, three-time African champions, have reached the quarter-finals of the tournament in Morocco and will face Algeria on Saturday. The Super Eagles have impressed so far, with strong performances driven by star attackers Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen. Onazi, who was part of Nigeria’s AFCON-winning team in 2013, believes the current squad has the quality and momentum to go all the way. “This generation of Super Eagles need to win the AFCON title for themselves,” Onazi said. “It will be a bit shameful for players of this calibre in the squad to not touch the AFCON trophy.” Nigeria’s attacking strength has been one of the standout features of the tournament. Lookman has been directly involved in several goals through both scoring and assists, while Osimhen has also delivered important goals and leadership up front. Onazi said winning the Africa Cup of Nations can be a defining moment in a footballer’s career and urged the players to remain focused on the task ahead. “When you win the AFCON, it gives you an edge in your career. It is one of the biggest trophies in the world,” he added. “It is good for the players and good for the country.” The former Lazio midfielder also stressed that the Super Eagles must not allow any distractions to derail their campaign, especially at such a crucial stage of the competition. His comments come after Nigeria experienced brief off-field issues earlier in the week, which led to concerns over preparations. Those matters have since been resolved, with the team travelling to Marrakech and resuming full training ahead of the quarter-final clash against Algeria. With renewed focus and confidence, the Super Eagles will be aiming to take another step towards lifting the AFCON trophy and meeting the high expectations placed on them.
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Cameroon struggled to assert themselves in attack for much of the first half, but they made the most of their chances. In the 34th minute, South Africa failed to clear a corner, and after a deflected shot from the edge of the area, Junior Tchamadeu reacted quickest to curl the ball home from close range for his first international goal.
The Indomitable Lions carried that momentum into the second half and doubled their lead just two minutes after the restart. Aboubakar Nagida sent in an accurate cross from the left, which Christian Kofane headed in expertly from a tight angle.
South Africa responded with attacking changes and applied sustained pressure, but Cameroon goalkeeper Devis Epassy produced a series of fine saves to protect his side’s lead. He denied Samukele Kabini from close range and then tipped Teboho Mokoena’s free kick around the post.
Bafana Bafana continued to push and finally pulled a goal back in the 88th minute when Evidence Makgopa struck from close range, setting up a tense finish.
However, Cameroon held firm through five minutes of stoppage time to seal their place in the quarter-finals, edging another closely fought AFCON contest.
