Burnley striker Lyle Foster struck late to end South Africa’s 21-year AFCON opening-match curse, punishing a wasteful Angola side with a 79th-minute winner in a gritty 2-1 victory in Marrakesh on Monday.

Since edging Benin at the 2004 finals, Bafana Bafana had stumbled through opening games, drawing twice and losing four times, a record that made this breakthrough long overdue.

The Group B opener unfolded in three clear chapters. South Africa began with intent, and Oswin Appollis fired them ahead in the 21st minute before a sparse crowd inside the near-42,000-capacity stadium.

Angola then seized control of the remainder of the first half, forcing an equaliser through Show. But South Africa regrouped after the break, regained composure, and Foster delivered the decisive blow to seal all three points.

Egypt, led by Mohamed Salah, faces Zimbabwe later in the southern coastal city of Agadir in the same group.

South Africa pressed aggressively early on, though goalkeeper Ronwen Williams was called into action after 15 minutes, reacting sharply to push away a threatening effort from Angolan skipper Fredy Ribeiro.

Appollis finally broke the deadlock six minutes later, pouncing on a Khuliso Mudau cross, stealing possession, and calmly slotting past 39-year-old Hugo Marques with a low finish into the corner.