South Africa shocks 10-man Morocco to set up a quarter-final against Cape Verde at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
By Olisa Obi
It was Evidence Makgopa who produced a neat finish to score the opener in the 57th minute, surviving a lengthy Video Assistant Referee (VAR) check for offside and putting Bafana Bafana (South africa) on their way to a surprise victory over the 2022 World Cup semi-finalists.
Morocco then got a lifeline when Mothobi Mvala was adjudged to have handled Ayoub El Kaabi’s shot; only for Hakimi to fire his golden opportunity to level the game in 85th minute spot-kick against the crossbar.
Manchester United midfielder Sofyan Amrabat was then dismissed in stoppage time before Teboho Mokoena curled a classy free-kick past Bono to confirm the upset in style.
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The 1996 champions will now aim to improve upon their quarter-final exit on their most recent appearance at the finals in 2019, when they take on the unbeaten Blue Sharks of Cape Verde on Saturday (20:00 GMT) for a place in the last four.
Morocco are Africa’s top-ranked side but will have to wait until they host the 2025 edition of Afcon to end their long wait for a second continental title, which stretches all the way back to 1976.
MOROCCO MISSED CHANCES
Injuries meant Morocco were shorn of forwards Hakim Ziyech and Sofiane Boufal, who must have been in the stands watching on in dismay as their team crashed out of the Afcon.
Amine Adli and Selim Amallah sent excellent chances wide after breaking free inside the box as Morocco’s accuracy deserted them during the first half, while South Africa centre-back Mvala had to intervene twice during the early stages to stop fierce shots from Hakimi and Adli.
Morocco should have gone ahead shortly after the restart when Azzedine Ounahi won possession just inside South Africa’s territory, surged into the penalty area and lofted the ball over the crossbar following a swift one-two with Youssef En-Nesyri.
Although the competition is over for the Atlas lions, Bafana Bafana will have the task of facing an undefeated team in the blue sharks of Cape Verde. If they can over come them, they will have to face either the Super Eagles of Nigeria or The Black sable Antelopes of Angola.
