AFCON 2023 Qualifiers: Morocco Prove Too Strong For Rejuvenating South Africa

Bafana Bafana of South Africa kick off their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 qualification campaign with a 2-1 loss away to Group K favourites Morocco at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on Thursday night.

Bafana scored first through Lyle Foster on the counter attack and relied on some superb saves from goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, but it didn't last long.

The Atlas Lions levelled through Sevilla forward Youssef En-Nesyri early in the second half and scored a late winner via Ayoub El Kaabi.

Debutant Sphephelo Sithole lofted a pass over the Morocco defence from midfield and allowed Lyle Foster to spring the offside trap – the Westerlo forward held off the attentions of Achraf Hamiki, before striking a low shot which beat goalkeeper Yassine Bounou at his near post.

En-Nesyri had two great chances, in quick succession, to level the game just after the quarter hour mark, but on both occasions he was denied by excellent saves from Bafana goalkeeper and captain Ronwen Williams.

Williams would have been the man of match with his saves -- keeping out a low effort from the right of the penalty area by Aymane Barkok and later turning away an awkward, skidding attempt from Ilias Chair.

In the 37th minute the Atlas Lions really should have levelled the game, with Hakimi’s low cross from the right finding En-Nesyri, but the striker somehow directed an effort wide with the goal gaping just a few metres in front of him.

The hosts spurned another good chance a couple of minutes before the interval when Tarik Tissoudali’s knock down gave Selim Amallah a free volley inside the penalty area, but he blazed a shot high over the target.

Morocco’s final chance of the first half arrived in injury time when Hakimi had a sight of goal after a slip in the away side’s defence, but his shot – which looked destined for the bottom corner – was tipped away for a corner by the excellent Williams.

The North Africans picked up in the second half where they left off in the first, and should have been awarded a penalty in the early minutes when defender Taariq Fielies got away with blocking a goal-bound shot with his arm.

An equaliser seemed inevitable and duly arrived in the 51st minute: Sofyan Amrabat played a diagonal to pick out Romain Saiss, who headed back across the face of goal and En-Nesyri nodded home from close range for 1-1.

Morocco continued to dominate in the wake of their goal, and introduced the likes of Yahya Attiat-Allah, Ayoub El Kaabi, Amine Harit and Azzeddine Ounahi to bring fresh legs in attack.

El Kaabi almost put Morocco ahead on 77 minutes when he got on the end of a diagonal into the penalty area and placed a header on target, but Williams scrambled across to make a fine save and keep the scores level.

However, the ‘keeper was helpless to keep out Morocco’s winner on 88 minutes. Harit clipped in a waist-high cross from the left flank and El Kaabi got ahead of his marker to sweep home a crisp volley and earn a deserved victory for the Atlas Lions.

Morocco will return to Group K action on Monday 13 June when they play ‘away’ to Liberia in Casablanca. .

South Africa’s scheduled clash at home to Zimbabwe on the same day was cancelled due to the disqualification of the Zim team.

Brooks Disappointed In Loss

South Africa manager Hugo Brooks was disappointed at his side loss to Morocco in their opening game.

“It’s not the result we wanted,” Brooks said. “For a long time in the game, I thought we could win, then after the first goal we conceded I was happy to take one point. To concede the second goal so close to the end was disappointing.”

“We now know what to do in September,” Broos said. “I was not disappointed with the performance. We fought for it against a very strong Moroccan team, so that was good. Let’s hope we can do it twice in September with two victories.”