AFCON: Can South Africa Upset Morocco?

• Bafana Bafana dare favourites Atlas Lions for Q-final ticket

BY VICTOR OSOWOCHI – Going by current shocking results at the ongoing TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, tagged ‘Côte d’Ivoire 2023’, pundits are already asking if South Africa’s Bafana Bafana can upset favourites and Africa’s pride at the 2022 FIFA World Cup semi-finalist, Morocco in today’s round of 16 clash inside the Stade Laurent Pokou in San Pedro.

Holding promises of being a thrilling encounter between two of Africa’s football greats, the match should ultimately reflect the tournament’s demanding and high-stakes performance that has compelled participating teams to embrace pragmatic mindsets and focus on effectiveness rather than flamboyance.

With many of the tagged pre-tournament favourites taken to the cleaners by the so-called minnows, football aficionadoes believe Bafana Bafana can deploy their strategic team’s maturity and flexibility that signpost the unique demands of tournament football to shock the Atlas Lions whose runs in the competition has been impressive so far.

Indeed, Morocco remain one of the teams to beat in the tournament following their dazzling run at the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar. They have proven a handful for every team that has crossed path and their ambition has been clear from the onset; to go as far as possible in the tournament and win the trophy.

So far, everything is going according to plan for the Atlas Lions though the 1-1 draw with DR Congo left a few doubts. The final match against Zambia in the group phase which they won 1-0 was a clear indication of the team’s ambition.

With many cautioning against their boring goalless draw Tunisia approach, the South Africans cannot afford to replicate the lacklustre performance and uninspiring display that left much to be desired.

Reaching the Round of 16 is no doubt a commendable achievement for the team, but to harbour any hopes of progressing beyond this stage, Bafana must remain steadfast and focused, approaching this match with unwavering determination and concentration. – With agency reports

Coaches Speak On The Match

Walid Regragui – Morocco Coach: “It’s a knockout match. It’s a change of competition. We can’t afford to make any mistakes. We’ve done well so far, but we want to do better. We have a lot of respect for South Africa. They were the last team to beat us on the continent. We’re not in a favourable position, which is why I’m insisting on my group’s humility.

Boufal is out and his TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Côte d’Ivoire 2023 is over. He has a muscular problem and, barring a surprise, we won’t be seeing him again. Ziyech is also suffering from his ankle. The medical staff and I are doing everything we can to get him back on the pitch. If we have to take a risk with him, we’ll take it”.

Hugo Broos – South Africa Coach: “This TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Côte d’Ivoire 2023 is full of surprises, as we’ve seen from the start. We already beat Morocco a year ago and we can do it again. Anything is possible and we want to create another surprise in this competition. We’re confident, we believe in ourselves and in what we can do. I think we’ll have to go into this match with the same frame of mind we’ve had recently, but I want us to be at a very high level”.