South Africa warmed up for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with an impressive 3-1 triumph over Zambia in an International Friendly played at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on Saturday afternoon.

Goals from Oswin Appollis, Mohau Nkota and Sphephelo Sithole saw Bafana Bafana secure an emphatic triumph, further boosting their confidence heading into the continental championships, which get under way in just over five weeks’ time in Morocco.

And so it ends in Gqeberha. Our journey towards the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco continues.......#BafanaPride pic.twitter.com/743iZVq9um

— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) November 15, 2025

South Africa dominated possession and territory from early on, while Zambia were lucky not to be reduced to 10 men with just seven minutes played when Chongo Kabaso was only yellow carded for a two-footed, studs-up challenge on Sipho Mbule in the midfield.

Bafana Bafana pushed and probed at the Chipolopolo defence through the first half, but only drew one notable save from goalkeeper Toaster Nsabata, who punched away a long-range shot from Mbule around the half-hour mark.

The hosts finally broke the deadlock in the 43rd minute, with Mbule playing a superb pass to pick out a run from the left flank by Oswin Appollis – the Orlando Pirates winger then drove a low shot beyond Nsabata’s left hand for 1-0.

SUB MAKES A BRILLIANT IMPACT

Appollis was one of four South Africa players substituted at the start of the second half, as he along with Ronwen Williams, Teboho Mokoena and Mbekezile Mbokazi were replaced by Mohau Nkota, Sipho Chaine, Thalente Mbatha and Khulumani Ndamane respectively.

Zambia made just the one change at the time, with David Simukonda replacing Gift Siame.

One of Bafana substitutes, Nkota, made it 2-0 just past the hour mark with a brilliant goal.

The 21-year-old latched onto a lobbed ball over the top of the defence from Mbule, cut inside a defender and then curled a shot from the edge of the penalty area into the top corner to put the hosts firmly in charge of the match.

Nkota went from scorer to assister in the 68th minute, as his in-swinging corner kick from the right flank picked out midfielder Sphephelo Sithole, who got between two defenders and was able to head home from just a couple of metres out for 3-0.

Bafana saw out the remainder of the game in relative comfort, though they were caught out on a counter attack in injury time as Zambia pulled a goal back through substitute Joseph Sabobo.

South Africa (1) 3 (Appollis 43’, Nkota 62’, Sithole 68’)

Zambia (0) 1 (Sabobo 90+2’)

South Africa: R. Williams (S. Chaine 46’), K. Mudau (T. Matuludi 76’), M. Mbokazi (K. Ndamane 46’), N. Sibisi, S. Kabini, T. Mokoena (T. Mbatha 46’), S. Sithole, S. Mbule, T. Moremi, O. Appollis (M. Nkota 46’), L. Foster (E. Makgopa 65’)

Zambia: T. Nsabata, M. Chaiwa (K. Musonda 79’), O. Chisala (D. Hamansenya 70’), K. Chongo, P. Daka (J. Lahne 83’), G. Kalusa (F. Musonda 70’), G. Mphande, L. Musonda (J. Sabobo 70’), B. Sakala, F. Sakala, G. Siame (D. Simukonda 46’)