LION TAMERS
Makgopa and Mokoena the heroes as South Africa set up a clash with Cape Verde.
Evidence Makgopa answered his critics in the best possible fashion as Bafana Bafana stunned Morocco 2-0 to march into the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinals at the Stade Laurent Pokou in San Pedro last night.
Makgopa struck the decisive goal in what was a fantastic rearguard action from Hugo Broos’ side, who fended off everything the Atlas Lions threw at them.
The game was truly up when Sofyane Amrabat was sent off in stoppage time for a foul on the tireless Teboho Mokoena and the same player picked himself up to curl a brilliant free kick past Bono in the Morocco goal.
This was a result to match and even better Bafana’s last-16 win
over Egypt in Cairo in 2019.
Walid Regragui’s side, after all, came into this tournament as World Cup semifinalists and the No 1 side in Africa.
They were left to rue a missed penalty by Achraf Hakimi after Makgopa’s goal, but in truth, the Atlas Lions didn’t test Bafana captain Ronwen Williams nearly enough.
It was an heroic display from Bafana at the back, with Mothobi Mvala and Grant Kekana both brilliant in the heart of their defence.
It was down the right wing that the Atlas Lions threatened the most in the first half, with Amine Adli and Achraf Hakimi giving Aubrey Modiba plenty of problems.
In the 9th minute, Hakimi cut in from the right and got in a shot but Mothobi Mvala was there to block, as he did again two minutes later as Adli fired at goal.
In the 15th minute, Mokoena tested Bono in the Morocco goal with a fizzing long-range effort, which the Atlas Lions ‘keeper made a bit of a meal of turning behind for a corner.
Bafana were generally defending superbly, snapping into challenges
and giving Morocco little time on the ball. They did let Adli in on the stroke of half time as Modiba slipped over, but from a good position he ended up scuffing an effort wide.
Morocco came out fired up after the break, and Youssef En-Nesyri set up Azz-Eddine Ounahi, but he fired a good chance over the bar.
Bafana looked laboured with their passing, but all of a sudden they cut through the Morocco defence. Makgopa burst onto a fine pass from Themba Zwane and drilled a finish past Bono. The goal stood after a VAR check showed the Pirates striker was inches onside.
Morocco laid siege to the Bafana goal for the remainder of the game.
Substitute Ayoub El Kaabi headed Sofyane Amrabat’s cross over the bar in the 74th minute, and the same player was involved in the penalty incident nine minutes from time, his shot striking Mvala on the arm, with the referee awarding a penalty after consulting a video replay.
Hakimi, however, struck the top of the crossbar and Mokoena and Bafana had the last laugh.