Snl24 | Bafana pip Morocco to AFCON quarter-finals

Bafana Bafana booked their spot in the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals with a 2-0 win over Morocco on Tuesday night.

Bafana were unchanged from the goalless draw with Tunisia, while the Atlas Lions were without Sofiane Boufal, who has been ruled out for the rest of the tournament, and Hakim Ziyech.

The Atlas Lions as expected provided the earlier scare through relentless offensive pressure that forced the South Africans on the back-foot and captain Ronwen Williams to be on high alert.

Bafana showed resilience a little later and got the first shot in anger when Teboho Mokoena’s long-range drive put Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou in a spot of bother after dipping off the ground.

However, the match was relatively tight on all fronts as both teams wrestled extensively for possession and a foothold in this keenly anticipated showdown.

Morocco looked for a strong finish and came close when Selim Amallah got out on the far side to cut inside before firing off the side-netting in additional time. 

With over ten minutes played in the second stanza, the North Africans were stunned as Evidence Makgopa beat the offside trap collect a pass from Themba Zwane and fired in the bottom-corner.

Full-back Abde Ezzalzouli came extremely close to an instant response when he cut in from the left to produce a curling shot, but Williams parried.

Bafana coach Hugo Broos in their first substitution midway in the second period, with Zwane in for club mate Thapelo Maseko before withdrawing the scorer Makgopa for Zakhele Lepasa.

Drama unfolded with seven minutes to play as the Atlas Lions got a penalty after Mothobi Mvala handled in the area, but Achraf Hakimi sent the resultant effort off the woodwork.

The Atlas Lions were down to ten men in added time after Sofyan Amrabat brought down Mokoena, with the red-card not overturned despite a pitch-side review.

Mokoena stood up and curled the resultant free-kick in the bottom-corner, as Bafana claimed a shock win to enter the quarter-finals where they will face Cape Verde.

Confirmed line-ups:

Morocco: Bono, Hakimi, Saiss, Ageurd, Mazraoui, Amallah, Amrabat, Ounah, Adli, Ezzalzouli, En-Nyesri

South Africa: Williams, Mudau, Kekana, Mvala, Modiba, Sithole, Mokoena, Tau, Morena, Zwane, Makgopa

Subs: Mothwa, Goss, Mobbie, Mashego, Xulu, Appollis, Adams, Maseko, Monare, Lepasa, Sibisi, Mayambela

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