For the end of the round of 16 of CAN 2024, the poster between Morocco and South Africa in San Pedro kept its promises. Bafana Bafana created a surprise by eliminating the Atlas Lions (2-0), although favorites, at the end of a tactical encounter. Hakimi missed a penalty late in the match.
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The African Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast is not going well for the favorites, and this was once again confirmed with Morocco. The Atlas Lions lost to South Africa (2-0), Tuesday January 30, at the Laurent Pokou stadium in San Pedro. Bafana Bafana create a sensation and secure the last ticket for the quarter-finals of CAN 2024.
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At the start of the meeting, the two teams seem to be in an observation phase. They are well in place tactically and leave little space. The Atlas Lions seem determined to quickly gain the upper hand over Bafana Bafana and create several situations.
Hakimi’s rush sent a first shudder through the South African camp, but his shot was deflected for a corner (8th). On the set piece that followed, En-Nesyri – finally whistled offside – got a first duel against Williams but it was the Bafana Bafana goalkeeper who won (9th). Adli also tries a shot after having made good use of a free space, but the ball is diverted for a corner (11th).
On the other side of the field, Bounou had a quiet start to the match… until the floating shot unleashed by Mokoena outside the Moroccan area. The rebound forces the last defense of the Atlas Lions to deviate for a corner (16th). The rest of the match is a succession of inaccuracies and sterile possessions on both sides… until Modibo sharply tackles Hakimi and is logically warned by the referee (29th).
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The Moroccans are now struggling to create situations like at the start of the match, and Bafana Bafana are careful not to be surprised. So Morocco lengthens its transmissions but rushes too much, which seems to annoy Walid Regragui on the sidelines. The combinations are rare but promising when there are some, like the Hakimi-Adli pairing which brings a new thrill to the South African surface (45th). Then Amallah, alone on the left, crushes his shot too much to deceive Williams (45th+1).
Few situations in the end in this first act. The Atlas Lions have not yet roared and Bafana Bafana are holding on, 0-0 at the break.
South African realism and Hakimi’s missed penalty
Returning from the locker room, Morocco creates its best chance of the match so far: En-Nesyri and Ounahi combine, and the midfielder connects a lobbed shot which narrowly goes over the South African goal (48th) . Shortly after, Ezzalzouli crosses the South African half with the ball and appears in the area before collapsing (50th). It looks like Mudau has him off balance, but the referee doesn’t flinch.
Bafana Bafana endure but do not break. Better, they score on their first opportunity: Makgopa is found deep on the edge of offside, and the attacker deceives Bounou with a right-footed cross shot at ground level (1-0, 56th). South Africa creates a surprise in this match.
So the Moroccans redoubled their efforts to come back to the score: Ezzalzouli, after a subtle hook, sent a curling shot but Williams intervened (59th). Shortly after, another big Moroccan opportunity but Hakimi, well served by Ezzalzouzi, is blocked by Kekana (61st). Hakimi, again, crosses after a good overflow but neither En-Nesyri nor Ezzalzouli cut the trajectory in the penalty area (67th).
The South Africans showed solidarity in defense and resisted the attack of the Atlas Lions. Morocco does not give up, however, and El Kaabi, who has just entered, attempts a header which passes just above Williams’ cage (75th). We are entering money time, and Bafana Bafana believe they are on the right track…
But a contentious situation in the South African area could change everything: El Kaabi’s shot, which was heading towards goal, was blocked with the hand by Mvala. After viewing the VAR, the referee designates the penalty spot. Obviously, Hakimi takes charge of the set piece to bring Morocco back into this match… but his powerful shot crashes on the crossbar (85th).
The Atlas Lions can still count on the 10 minutes of added time to come back to the score, but they will have to finish the match numerically inferior: Amrabat is excluded for having prevented Mokoena, who started on the counter, from appearing alone against the Moroccan goal (90th + 2). In the process, Mokoena transformed the free kick obtained with a powerful right curl into Bounou’s top corner (2-0, 95th).
Ideal end to the match for South Africa, which advances to the quarter-finals, where it will cross paths with Cape Verde. And a cruel end to CAN, again, for one of the favorites of the competition, Morocco, which has not reached the last four for 10 years.
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