The first day of the CAN 2023 qualifiers in group K was complicated for Morocco, Thursday June 9. Opposed to South Africa, the Atlas Lions were frustrated for a long time before winning at home (2-1).
Football can be a complex equation. Pounding the opposing cage is not necessarily synonymous with success. Morocco-South Africa, first match of the group K qualifiers for the 2023 African Cup of Nations, has long been a headache for Moroccans, this June 9 in Rabat. Luckily for them, it ended well.
In this pool where only three teams will aim for qualification, Zimbabwe being disqualified due to the suspension of the national federation by Fifa, Vahid Halilhodzic and his players were favorites in this first home match against the South Africans. That didn’t stop them from cringing for quite a while.
Foster freezes the Atlas Lions
Despite the support of their public, the Moroccans were coldly picked at the Moulay-Abdallah stadium. Launched deep in the back of a defense not in place, Lyle Foster escaped, resisted the return of Achraf Hakimi and beat Bono with a tight shot (8th). A failed start therefore from Morocco, before a deluge of opportunities.
Largely dominant in the game, the Atlas Lions have multiplied the attempts. 17 times, they struck on goal during the first 45 minutes. But efficiency has been lacking in their ranks. When Tarik Tissoudali and his team did not miss the target, sometimes in ideal situations, they found a South African foot or goalkeeper Ronwen Williams on their way.
It was therefore under the whistles that the locals returned to the locker room, all to their exasperation at the South African success in this first act (one shot, one goal). Entrenched in their camp and willingly leaving the ball to the opponent, the men of Belgian Hugo Broos were doing well.
Harit-El Kaabi, winning coaching
The Bafana Bafana lock finally jumped at the start of the second period. Youssef En-Nesyri, on receiving a header from his captain Romain Saïss, spiked the leather with his forehead and delivered a whole stadium that had been frustrated (51st). The Sevilla FC striker, ineffectual in the first act, regained his sense of goal at the right time.
The rest of the second half looked like an attack-defense turning to South Africa’s advantage… until the 87th minute. Amine Harit, very restless and dangerous since coming into play 20 minutes earlier, was forgotten by the defense and was able to overflow on the left side. And at the reception of his cross, Ayoub El Kaabi, another incoming (in the 60th), signed a perfect volley with the left foot.
The efficiency ratio of the Moroccans (29 shots, 10 on target, 2 goals) is not perfect, but it was enough to overcome the Bafana Bafana, who leave frustrated after all their efforts come to naught. They will have to wait until September to replay in these qualifiers against Liberia. Morocco has a date with the Lone Stars on June 13.
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