I believe they left the stadium feeling very proud to be South Africans
A blunder by Morocco goalkeeper Munir el Kajoui led to a 2-1 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying defeat in South Africa on Saturday — their first loss since reaching the 2022 World Cup semi-finals.
Zambia completed a joyful day for southern Africa by hammering the Ivory Coast 3-0 in Ndola to secure a place in the finals for the first time since 2015.
South Africa and World Cup history-makers Morocco had qualified ahead of a lively Group K clash in Johannesburg that drew a 50,000 crowd despite near-freezing conditions.
El Kajoui, standing in for rested Yassine Bounou, allowed a Percy Tau cross slip from his grasp into the net after only five minutes and Zakhele Lepasa added a second on 48 minutes.
Hakim Ziyech halved the deficit on the hour, but an equaliser eluded Morocco, who last December became the first African and Arab team to reach the World Cup semi-finals.
Morocco’s Hakim Ziyach (R) fights for the ball with South Africa’s Jurry Aubaas (L) during the second leg of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (CHAN) Group K qualifier match between South Africa and Morocco at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on June 17, 2023. (Photo by Phill Magakoe / AFP)
After finishing fourth in Qatar, the Atlas Lions beat Brazil and drew with Peru and Cape Verde in friendly matches. The visit to Johannesburg marked a return to competitive action.
“We could have scored four or five goals against Morocco, who are currently the best team in Africa, and it is a great confidence booster to beat them,” said South Africa coach Hugo Broos.
“Having played in front of small crowds lately, it was wonderful to have so many people backing us, and I believe they left the stadium feeling very proud to be South Africans.”
Morocco coach Walid Regragui, mastermind behind successes over Belgium, Spain and Portugal before a semi-final loss to France in Qatar, said he was “not unhappy with the result”.
“Call me crazy if you wish for saying that, but you sometimes learn more from a loss than a win. My players were tired after a grueling season of domestic and World Cup matches.”