South Africa secured their place at the 2027 AFCON with a 2-1 victory over Zimbabwe in Johannesburg, with striker Percy Tau scoring a stunning 89th-minute winner that sent Orlando Stadium into raptures.
Bafana Bafana sealed their qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations in dramatic fashion on Wednesday night, defeating Zimbabwe 2-1 at a packed Orlando Stadium in Soweto thanks to a stunning Percy Tau strike in the 89th minute that sent 45,000 fans into absolute delirium. The victory, which secured South Africa’s place in the continental showpiece to be hosted by Morocco, was Bafana’s most emotionally charged result in years.
Zimbabwe had equalised in the 76th minute through Knowledge Musona, cancelling out Lyle Foster’s first-half opener and leaving Bafana needing a winner to avoid a playoff round. The tension inside Orlando Stadium was palpable before Tau — who had been relatively quiet throughout the match — received the ball on the edge of the area and unleashed an unstoppable left-footed curler into the top corner.
Tau’s Moment of Magic
Percy Tau, who plays his club football for Al Ahly in Egypt, described the goal as one of the most important of his career. “This one is for the nation. This one is for everyone who believes in Bafana,” he told journalists at the post-match press conference, visibly emotional. Head coach Hugo Broos, who announced last month that he will step down after AFCON 2027, called it a “perfect farewell gift from the players.”
“Percy is a world-class player. When it mattered most, he delivered. That is the mark of a true champion.” — Hugo Broos, Bafana Bafana Head Coach
The Road to AFCON 2027
The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will be hosted jointly by Morocco and is scheduled for January and February 2027. South Africa has been drawn into Group C alongside Nigeria, Senegal, and Algeria — a group that pundits are already calling the “Group of Death.” However, Bafana’s performances in qualifying suggest they have the quality to compete against even the continent’s elite sides.