Cameroon on Sunday eliminated South Africa in the Africa Cup of Nations Round of 16, booking a quarterfinal spot against hosts Morocco at Agdal Medina Stadium.

The AFCON 2025 clash began at a fast, physical pace as both sides traded early momentum. Set pieces and direct play defined the opening exchanges, with Bafana Bafana seeking to impose themselves through crosses and dead-ball situations, while the Indomitable Lions relied on pace, power, and quick transitions.

The breakthrough came in the 41st minute when Junior Tchamadeu finished off a well-worked move to beat the South African back line, giving Cameroon a deserved lead heading into halftime. South Africa attempted to respond before the break, including a saved effort from Oswin Appollis, but lacked the final touch to equalize.

The second half started perfectly for Cameroon. In the 54th minute, Christian Kofane struck to make it 2-0, putting immediate pressure on South Africa and handing full control of the match to the Lions. With the advantage secured, Cameroon managed the tempo intelligently, closing down spaces and exploiting gaps on the counterattack.

South Africa found a late lifeline in the 88th minute when Evidence Maggopa met a long delivery from Aubrey Modiba inside the box to pull one back, making it 2-1 and adding tension to the closing stages.

Despite a late push from Bafana Bafana, Cameroon held firm to secure their place in the AFCON 2025 quarterfinals. Solid at the back, clinical in front of goal, and composed in key moments, the Indomitable Lions sealed a 2-1 victory.

They now face a blockbuster showdown against tournament hosts Morocco, advancing with confidence while South Africa bow out after a spirited performance that ultimately fell short when it mattered most.

Former Mount Pleasant Member of Parliament Fadzayi Mahere has called on Zimbabweans to rally behind the national football team, the Warriors, as they prepare for the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco which will run from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026.

The Warriors will open their campaign against African giants Egypt on Monday, a side led by star forward Mohamed Salah, in the first match of the 35th edition of the biennial tournament.

Posting on her X account (formerly Twitter), Mahere said:

Inside the Munetsi Exclusion That Rocked Zimbabwean Football

Marshall Munetsi will not wear the Warriors jersey at AFCON 2025.

Not because he’s injured. Not because he’s out of form. But because he spoke up.

How does a midfield general, fit, in form, and flying high in Europe, get axed from Zimbabwe’s AFCON 2025 squad without a word of reason?

ZIFA had no answers. Just a shrug. A vague nod to “fitness concerns.” But the truth, as uncovered by Bhorafrika, is far more sinister.

This wasn’t a footballing decision. It was a purge.

When the final Warriors squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations was announced, the omission of Marshall Munetsi sent shockwaves through Zimbabwean football. Here was a player in his prime, a midfield general thriving in Europe, respected across the continent, left out without explanation.

But behind the scenes, a far more troubling story was unfolding. One that reveals a toxic cocktail of internal betrayal, administrative vendettas, and a governing body more interested in silencing dissent than building a winning team.

This is not just about a player. It’s about power. And what happens when those in charge feel threatened by those who lead from within.

According to Bhorafrika, it began, as many modern revolutions do, with a message.

In the days leading up to a crucial match against South Africa, the Warriors camp was in disarray. Promised allowances hadn’t been paid. Morale was crumbling. Players were frustrated. Angry. Tired of broken promises.

In a private team WhatsApp group, Munetsi, one of the most senior and respected voices, urged his teammates to consider a boycott. Not out of malice, but out of principle.

To many, it was leadership. To ZIFA, it was mutiny.

What happened next would alter the course of Munetsi’s international career.

Someone, a teammate, a Judas, took a screenshot of Munetsi’s message and sent it to ZIFA official Kudzai Chitima. From there, it spread like wildfire through the corridors of power.

The response was swift and brutal.

Munetsi was summoned. Threatened. Told he would never play for the national team again unless he apologized. Some officials even pushed to have him expelled from camp before the Bafana Bafana game, a move only narrowly avoided.

The damage, however, was done. Trust was broken. The relationship between Munetsi and the administration lay in ruins.

When the AFCON squad was finalized, ZIFA claimed Munetsi was injured. But his club, Wolves, quickly debunked that narrative. In official communication to ZIFA, they confirmed he was 95% fit and expected to be ready for the tournament.

All ZIFA had to do was assess him. They didn’t.

Other players with more serious injuries were called up, examined, and monitored. Munetsi? Ignored.

The message was clear: this wasn’t about fitness. It was about punishment.

If the administration had turned its back on Munetsi, so too had the coach.

Head coach Marian “Mario” Marinica reportedly sent Munetsi a scathing message, expressing disappointment over missed camps, lack of communication, and even his failure to congratulate the team after a win in Qatar.

Then came the final blow: a demand for a written letter pledging future commitment to the national team.

It was an unprecedented move. One that reeked of mistrust and humiliation. One that no other player was asked to endure.

Taken together, the leaked messages, the threats, the injury smokescreen, the coach’s coldness, the picture becomes painfully clear.

Munetsi wasn’t dropped. He was targeted.

ZIFA turned a player’s call for accountability into a disciplinary offense. They weaponized a private conversation. They spun a false injury narrative. And they painted a loyal servant of the game as a disruptive force.

It’s a pattern Zimbabwean fans have seen before. And it’s one that continues to haunt the national team.

Munetsi’s exclusion is not an isolated incident. It’s a symptom of a deeper rot within Zimbabwean football.

An environment where speaking up is punished. Where leadership is feared. Where politics trumps performance.

If a player of Munetsi’s caliber can be cast aside for demanding professionalism, what hope is there for the rest?

What message does this send to young players dreaming of donning the national jersey?

And what future does Zimbabwean football have when its best are treated as threats?

ZIFA has yet to offer a credible explanation.

But their silence speaks volumes.

Until accountability replaces ego, and leadership is embraced rather than feared, the Warriors will remain a team at war with itself.

And the nation will continue to pay the price.