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News

Bafana stun Morocco out of Afcon, book spot in quarter-finals

todayJanuary 31, 2024 144

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Evidence Makgopa celebrates goal with teammates during the 2023 African Cup of Nations match between Morocco and South Africa at the Laurent Pokou Stadium, San Pedro on the 30 January 2024 ©SAFAMedia

Bafana Bafana caused one of the greatest upsets when they dispatched the number 1 team on the continent, Morocco, to book a spot in the quarter-finals of the African Cup of Nations.

Morocco, who went as favourites into this crucial match-up, failed to produce any goals against Bafana who won by two goals to nil courtesy of goals by Evidence Mokgopa and Teboho Mokoena.

Hugo Broos kept the same starting side, which drew with Tunisia in the last Group E game.

Both teams struggled to break the deadlock in the first half of the game.

The first goal came in at the 57th minute, which rattled the Atlas Lions before Mokoena struck a spectacular free-kick which sealed the deal for the South Africans.

The Atlas Lions missed their biggest scoring opportunity in the 85th minute when Achraf Hakimi missed a penatly and hit the ball too hard which bounced on the crossbar, and headed over Ronwen Williams post.

The Moroccan’s got the penalty after South Africa’s Mothobi Mvala handled the ball in the penalty area.

South Africa’s free-kick, which made the game 2-0, came after Manchester United midfielder Sofyan Amrabat got a red-card just a minute into added time after he fouled on Maseko.

Ten minutes was then added on to the 90 minutes, which seemed like a lifetime for the South Africans.

Bafana Bafana will face Cape Verde next, who made it through to the next round after winning 1-0 against Mauritania.

Teboho Mokoena, who got the last goal, also walks away with the Man of the Match award.

On Tuesday, President Cyril Ramaphosa correctly predicted Bafana’s win, urging them to play their hearts out.

The tournament, which has so far proved to be full of surprises in the Ivory Coast, has also seen ‘football giants’ Ghana, Algeria, Tunisia, Senegal and Egypt go home early in the competition.

Coach Hugo Broos has praised his side for a spirited performance.

 

Tebogo Mokoena of South Africa celebrates goal with teammates during the 2023 African Cup of Nations match between Morocco and South Africa at the Laurent Pokou Stadium, San Pedro on the 30 January 2024 ©SAFAMedia

This is how the teams lined up:

Bafana Bafana XI: Williams (GK, C), Mvala, Kekana, Mudau, Modiba, Sithole, Mokoena, Zwane, Morena, Tau, Makgopa.

Morocco XI: Bounou, Hakimi, Aguerd, Saiss, Mazraoui, Ounahi, Amrabat, Amallah, Adli, En Nesyri, Ezzalzouli.

The attention will turn to the quarter-finals now taking place on Friday and Saturday.

In the quarter-final matches:

Friday, 2, February:
Nigeria vs Angola
DR Congo vs Guinea

Saturday,3. February
Mali vs Cote d’Ivoire
Cape Verde vs South Africa

 

Written by: Nonhlanhla Harris

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