South Africa will need to draw on the lessons learned in their AFCON Qualifier win against Morocco last July when they face the Atlas Lions in thier Round of 16 clash on Tuesday. Ayanda Vezi previews.
AFCON 2023
Match 45: Morocco v South Africa
Tuesday 30 January | 22:00
A repeat of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture, but this time in the Round of 16 as North African giants Morocco takes on Southern side South Africa. With that one ending in favour of Bafana Bafana, I am sure the Atlas Lions will be out for vengeance!
To Win Match (90 mins)
Morocco 6/10 | Draw 9/4 | South Africa 5/1
Morocco were always expected to perform well in the tournament as Africa’s top-ranked side. However, they face a tough challenge against South Africa, who defeated them 2-1 in a qualifier for this very tournament in July last year.
Morocco can be described as a well-organised and balanced team, boasting big game players like former Chelsea dangerman Hakim Ziyech, PSGs Achraf Hakimi and Sevilla’s Youssef En-Nesyri. The Atlas Lions are in a rich vein of form in front of goal.
They have found the back of the net at least once in each of their previous 12 AFCON encounters – their longest run of scoring in the competition.
Given some of the tournament surprises, Morocco had already qualified for the knockout rounds after the second matchday. Despite this, Walid Regragui’s men came out all guns blazing in their final group game, attempting nineteen shots against Zambia. In that one, the master tactician served the first two-match ban which has now been overturned.
Coach Hugo Broos has instilled a strong sense of motivation and confidence in the South African camp. Despite Morocco being a formidable opponent, Broos may draw inspiration from South Africa’s previous victory over the North African giants, using it as a reference point to motivate his players.
Players like Evidence Makgopa are highlighted for their key roles in the team’s strategy, with the 23-year-old drawing defensive attention to create space for fellow attackers Percy Tau and Themba Zwane. Bafana Bafana’s adherence to the coach’s game plan, as demonstrated in the group stages, suggests they will present a tough challenge for Morocco in the upcoming encounter.
With Bafana Bafana improving in each game of the tournament and their determination to stick to their strategy, the match against Morocco promises to be a closely contested affair.
Verdict: Totals – Over 2.5 @ 14/10
This sets the stage for an exciting and competitive match as both teams aim to progress to the quarter-finals.
Bafana tend to be at their best when playing against these North African teams. I think there’ll be goals here. Over 2.5 at 14/10 looks good value.
