Based on the history books, it looks good for Baxter’s team, but ...

THANKS to their opening-match defeat to the Ivory Coast, using previous records to predict the outcome of Bafana Bafana’s next encounter would be folly.

But as they prepare to take on Morocco in their final Group D match of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations tonight, South Africa’s senior national team is sure to have their confidence somewhat boosted by history.

Granted the Elephants showed last week that statistics or records are nothing more than numbers on a piece of paper with little bearing on the outcome of matches, after they beat Bafana for the first time.

And no doubt Morocco will have the belief that they too can register their maiden Afcon win over their foes from southern Africa.

Bafana though will be encouraged by their hardfought victory over Namibia on Friday to believe they can make it three out of three wins over the Atlas Lions at the biennial continental showpiece.

SA have an impeccable record against Morocco at Afcon, two wins out of two and coach Stuart Baxter and his team would have done well to spend some time on YouTube watching those victories for inspiration.

Back in 1998 in Burkina Faso, Jomo Sono’s Bafana booked their place in the semi-finals thanks to a stunning goal by David Nyathi to beat the north Africans 2-1. Nyathi, a left-back with a penchant for speedy forays into the opposition area, made a trademark run forward and brilliantly sent his marker slipping on his butt inside the box. He then unleashed a thunderous shot with his weaker right foot to slot the ball home into the roof of the net.

Benni McCarthy had opened the scoring earlier on with a simple tap in after Brendan Augustine had headed the ball back into the box following a good safe by the Moroccan goalkeeper to push out Helman Mkhalele’s attempt.

Bafana went on to finish runners-up to Egypt at that tournament.

Four years later in Mali, the two countries met again – this time in a do-or-die final group match. Both teams were coached by Portuguese managers, Bafana by Carlos Quieroz and Morocco by Humberto Coelho.

The match was literally a no contest as SA overwhelmed their opponents with pace and guile. Sibusiso Zuma opened the scoring three minutes before the break and it was 2-0 three minutes after halftime courtesy of a Thabo Mngomeni strike. Before Morocco could make sense of what was happening, Siyabonga Nomvethe made it 3-0 some four minutes after Mngomeni’s goal.

Rachid Benmaahmoud’s penalty on 77 minutes was nothing more than a consolation goal for Morocco whose participation at the event came to an end. The two nations have subsequently played two draws at the tournament – 1-1 in 2004 and 2-2 in 2013.

This time around, Morocco are guaranteed progression to the next round even if they lose today. But in Herve Renard they have a coach who will want to take a perfect record into the knockout stages, while the Moroccans would love nothing more than to bring an end to their suffering against Bafana.