Christian Michel Kofane of Cameroon celebrates goal during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations AFCON match between South Africa and Cameroon at El Barid Stadium in Rabat, Morocco on 04 January 2026 ©Weam Mostafa/BackpagePix
Sunday Jan 04, 2026. 22:37
Cameroon emerged as 2-1 winners over South Africa in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Round of 16 match at the Al Median Stadium in Rabat, Morocco, on Sunday night.
As a result, the Indomitable Lions progressed to the quarter-finals, where they will face the hosts, Morocco, at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on January 9. Bafana Bafana, on the other hand, bowed out of the tournament and the 1996 African champions will be heading back home.
The Indomitable Lions were under siege in the opening 15 minutes of the match as Bafana Bafana applied some early pressure on the five-time African champions. Lyle Foster failed to keep his free header on target in the third minute and Relebohile Mofokeng could not score with only goalkeeper Devis Epassy to beat in the seventh minute.
The Central Africans grew gradually into the match and they managed to break the deadlock in the 34th minute. A ball deflected into Junior Tchamadeu’s path and the full-back made no mistake as he fired past goalkeeper Ronwen Williams for his first international goal. Cameroon were enjoying a slender 1-0 lead at the interval.
Pagou’s side got off to the perfect start in the second-half as they doubled their lead through Christian Kofane, who headed home Mahamadou Aboubakar Nagida’s exquisite cross, to make it 2-0 Cameroon. It was the 19-year-old Bayer Leverkusen striker’s second goal in three matches for the Indomitable Lions.
Both goalkeepers were called into action in the latter stages of the match, with Teboho Mokoena being denied by Epassy in the 68th minute and Ronwen Williams blocking an attempt by Kofane in the 72nd minute at the other hand. Epassy was finally beaten in the 88th minute by substitute Evidence Makgopa’s close-range finish, but Cameroon held on to secure a 2-1 win on the night.
South Africa (0) 1 (Makgopa 88′)
Cameroon (1) 2 (Tchamadeu 34′, Kofane 47′)
South Africa: Ronwen Williams; Samukelo Kabini (Modiba 63′), Nkosinathi Sibisi (Moremi 83′), Khuliso Mudau, Siyabonga Ngezana, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Bathusi Aubaas, Teboho Mokoena, Oswin Appollis (Makgopa 63′), Lyle Foster, Relebohile Mofokeng (Mbule 75′).
Cameroon: Devis Epassy; Junior Tchamadeu, Che Malone, Nouhou Tolo, Bryan Mbeumo, Ngameni Yongwa (Nagida 21′ Wooh 79′), Danny Namaso (Kemen 79′), Arthur Avon, Samuel Junior Kotto, Carlos Baleba (Boyomo 90′), Christian Kofane (Soko 90′)