"An Easy Win? That's Wishful Thinking" Red Alert for Hong Myung-bo's Squad... The Chilling Strike of 'EPL Killer' Foster

[Financial News] There is nothing more foolish than celebrating victory before the battle has even begun. News has arrived that sends a chill down the spine of Hong Myung-bo’s squad, who had been smiling at the prospect of an 'easy group.' The Republic of South Africa, whom we considered a guaranteed win, is far from an easy opponent.
On the 23rd (Korean time), at the Grand Stade de Marrakech, the Republic of South Africa roared to a 2-1 victory over the Republic of Angola in their first Group B match of the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) group stage. This was no ordinary win. With their sights set on reclaiming the African crown for the first time in 30 years, their attack was sharper and their organization more solid than expected.
FIFA ranking: 61st. Numbers don’t lie, but sometimes they obscure the truth. Although the Republic of South Africa has been identified as a must-beat opponent for us in Group A of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, their performance in this match was enough to make us question, "Can we really beat them so easily?"
Lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, the Republic of South Africa played a pragmatic and efficient game. Veteran goalkeeper Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club) anchored the team by withstanding Republic of Angola’s early onslaught. With a solid defense, the attack came alive. In the 21st minute, Oswin Appollis (Orlando Pirates FC) opened the scoring from just outside the penalty area, proving that South African football is not just about physicality.
Of course, there were moments of crisis. In the 35th minute of the first half, they conceded an equalizer to Show of the Republic of Angola and wavered. But as the saying goes, heroes are born in troubled times. The 'monster' that Hong Myung-bo’s squad must most fear awakened at that moment.
The protagonist was Lyle Foster, who currently plays for Burnley Football Club in the Premier League (EPL).


In the 79th minute, with the score tied at 1-1, Foster unleashed a powerful right-footed shot from the edge of the penalty arc, sending the ball into the corner of the net. The goalkeeper stretched out but to no avail. Having already assisted Appollis’s opener, Foster completed a one-man show with the winning goal. With two goals in 13 EPL matches this season, the Premier League striker’s class was undeniable.
With this victory, the Republic of South Africa has revealed their true claws. The confidence of rising star Appollis, who has scored five goals in 20 matches since his 2023 debut, and Foster’s clinical finishing—marked by his ninth international goal—will pose a significant challenge for Hong Myung-bo’s defense.
The ball is round, and there are no true underdogs on the battlefield. If the team boards the plane to North America thinking, "We’ll surely beat South Africa," the result may be nothing but a devastating defeat. Foster’s powerful right-footed shot is a question posed directly to coach Hong Myung-bo.
"Are we really just your stepping stone?"


jsi@fnnews.com Jeon Sang-il Reporter