South Africa Stuns Morocco, Advances to AFCON Quarterfinals

South Africa Stuns Morocco, Advances to AFCON Quarterfinals

In a stunning upset in San Pedro, Ivory Coast, South Africa secured a 2-0 victory over pre-tournament favorite Morocco, knocking them out of the 2023 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations. Despite being ranked 73rd in the world, Bafana Bafana defied the odds, dethroning the CAF number one team and earning a spot in the quarterfinals.

South Africa’s journey in the tournament began with a 2-0 defeat against Mali. However, they rebounded with a convincing 4-0 win over Namibia and a hard-fought 0-0 draw against Tunisia, securing a second-place finish in Group B.

Morocco, with a star-studded lineup and recent success in the 2022 World Cup, was heavily favored to progress. However, they struggled to break down South Africa’s disciplined defense, recording no attempts on target in the first half.

The turning point came in the 57th minute when Evidence Makgopa scored for South Africa, assisted by Themba Zwane. Despite sustained pressure from Morocco, they couldn’t find an equalizer. In the 84th minute, a penalty awarded to Morocco went awry as Achraf Hakimi’s shot hit the woodwork.

Adding to Morocco‘s woes, Sofyan Ambrat received a red card in the dying minutes for a last-man challenge. Teboho Mokoena capitalized on the situation, converting a free-kick and sealing South Africa’s 2-0 victory.

With Morocco’s elimination, all quarterfinalists in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations will be different from the 2021 edition. South Africa now faces Cape Verde in the last eight.