By Maël Chrétien
Published 13 minutes ago, Updated now
Hakimi missed a penalty. GIVE UP / REUTERS
“Bafana Bafana” won this Tuesday evening against Morocco (2-0). The latter are eliminated.
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, as 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 is served between the lines of the Moroccan defense and easily takes the ball to Bono, before deceiving him with his left foot and plunging one country into doubt and the other in 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 made a hand and Hakimi took charge of the penalty for the hope, but the Parisian hit hard, too hard and sent his attempt 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 the free kick won he clears the top corner of Yassine Bounou, 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.
