With Ngezana integral for the third time in a row, South Africa qualified for the round of 16 of the Africa Cup
Article by Alexandru Stanciu – Published Monday, December 29, 2025 7:58 p.m. / Updated Monday, December 29, 2025 8:05 p.m.
Siyabonga Ngezana (28 years old), his quarterback FCSBwas for the third consecutive time a full-time player for the South African national team, which qualified for the round of 16 of the African Cup, after 3-2 with Zimbabwe, selected by Romanian Mario Marinică (61 years old).
South Africa thus ended group B in 2nd place, with 6 points out of 9 possible. With Ngezana featuring in all 3 matches, South Africa beat Angola 2-1 and Zimbabwe 3-2 and lost to group leaders Egypt 0-1.
This season, Ngezana has made a total of 25 appearances for FCSB in all competitions, scoring a goal and an assist.
South Africa qualified from the groups of the Africa Cup with Siyabonga Ngezana integralist
Tshepang Moremi opened the scoring for South Africa in the 7th minute after a decisive assist from Burnley forward Lyle Foster.
Zimbabwe restored parity just 12 minutes later through Tawanda Maswanhise and South Africa took the lead again in the 50th minute after Foster made it 2-1.
Aubrey Modiba scored a 74th-minute own goal to level the score at 2-2, but South Africa were able to win thanks to Oswin Appollis' 82nd-minute penalty kick.
Thus, South Africa managed to qualify from the Africa Cup of Nations groups alongside Egypt, who won the group with 7 points.
Zimbabwe exited the competition for good, finishing bottom of the group with just one point, earned in a 1-1 draw with Angola.
Mario Marinică has been the coach of the Zimbabwe national team since November 4, 2025. It was his fourth match in this position. He previously led Liberia and Malawi. He also served as the technical director of Malawi's Kerala Blasters, and at Concordia Chiajna he was an assistant.
