The 2024 edition of the CAN definitely offers its share of surprises. This Tuesday evening, Morocco was eliminated by South Africa (2-0). Despite a clear domination, the Atlas Lions conceded a goal from Makgopa (56th). At the end of the game (84th), PSG player Achraf Hakimi missed a penalty which could have brought his team into overtime.
But with a splendid free kick from Mokoena (94th), the South Africans sealed the fate of the match. Bafana Bafana will face Cape Verde in the quarter-finals this Saturday (9 p.m.). Failing to see any scoring opportunities, the first period was punctuated by aggressiveness in the duels. This is evidenced by the two South African yellow cards. The first for an unrestrained gesture by Modiba on Hakimi, and the second for a tactical error by Kekana in midfield to block En-Nesyri’s attack. Apart from a few flashes from Amine Adli finishing in 6 meters, the actions were rare and the teams returned to the locker room with a goalless score.
The second act started again with a new look, and Morocco obtained two interesting situations before being surprised by the Bafana Bafana scorer. In the 57th minute of play, Evidence Makgopa was served between the lines of the Moroccan defense and easily took the ball to Bounou, before deceiving it with his left foot. The South African plunged, at that moment, an entire country into doubt and the other into total intoxication. With their backs to the wall, the Atlas Lions increased their efforts to come back and had an equalizer 5 minutes from time.
Mvala makes a hand and Hakimi takes charge of the penalty for hope. But the Parisian hit hard, too hard, and sent the ball onto Williams’ crossbar. With added time as an hourglass, the Magrébins did not manage to find the fault and even exposed themselves to the counterattack. Amrabat cuts off the opposing attack and receives a red card, the sanction is fair and will be doubled by his victim. Mokoena, who suffered the charge of number 4, will take justice into his own hands. On a magnificently brushed free kick, he clears Yassine Bounou’s top corner, and sends South Africa to the quarter-finals at the same time. Big favorite of the competition with Senegal, Morocco joins the Lions of Teranga, and in turn leaves prematurely.