Angola Crush Bafana Bafana to Claim 2025 COSAFA Cup Glory
Angola’s Palancas Negras dominated Bafana Bafana 3-0 in the 2025 COSAFA Cup final in Bloemfontein. Depu’s brace and Milson’s free-kick secured Angola’s fifth title, leaving South Africa’s youthful squad to reflect on missed chances and defensive errors.
Naime Ben Siad Mchindra of Comoros challenged by Puso Dithejane of South Africa during the 2025 HollywoodBets COSAFA Cup Semifinal match between South Africa and Comoros at the Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein on the 13 June 2025 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
Bloemfontein, South Africa – Angola’s Palancas Negras delivered a masterclass performance, defeating South Africa’s Bafana Bafana 3-0 in the 2025 COSAFA Cup final at Free State Stadium on Sunday, June 15, to secure their fifth title and back-to-back championships. A brace from Depu and a late strike from Milson sealed a commanding victory for the defending champions, leaving the hosts heartbroken.
The match began with South Africa, coached by Vela Khumalo, showing early promise. Gape Moralo and Kamogelo Sebelebele threatened Angola’s defense, but a pinpoint header from Ime Okon struck the crossbar, denying Bafana an opener. Angola, led by Pedro Gonçalves, absorbed the pressure and struck decisively just before halftime. A well-placed free-kick found Laurindo Aurelio, whose header beat goalkeeper Thakasani Mbanjwa, sending Angola into the break with a 1-0 lead.
The second half saw Bafana push for an equalizer. Substitutions, including Mduduzi Shabalala and Victor Letsoalo, injected energy, and Orlando Pirates’ Boitumelo Radiopane nearly scored with a fierce volley, only for Angola’s goalkeeper Neblu to make a stunning save. However, Angola’s clinical finishing proved the difference. In the 62nd minute, Depu capitalized on a defensive lapse to double the lead, silencing the Bloemfontein crowd. Milson’s sublime free-kick in the 81st minute curled into the near corner, sealing a 3-0 rout and Angola’s dominance.
Despite the loss, Khumalo praised his youthful squad’s resilience, noting several players showed potential for senior Bafana call-ups. “We dominated possession but lacked the final touch. Angola punished our mistakes,” he said post-match. South Africa, chasing a sixth COSAFA title, remained winless in finals against Angola, who now trail only Zambia (seven titles) and Zimbabwe (six) in the competition’s history.
Angola’s Depu, who finished as the tournament’s joint-top scorer, earned player-of-the-match honors. Gonçalves hailed his team’s tactical discipline, stating, “We knew South Africa would come hard, but our focus and execution were perfect.” The victory marks Angola’s continued rise as a regional powerhouse, having won three of their five titles away from home.
For Bafana, the defeat stings but offers valuable lessons for a developing squad. As Angola celebrated with their passionate supporters, South Africa’s fans applauded their team’s effort, already looking ahead to future campaigns. The 2025 COSAFA Cup showcased Southern Africa’s footballing talent, with Angola’s triumph a testament to their grit and flair.
