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2023 Africa Cup of Nations
Round of 16
Morocco v South Africa
Laurent Pokou Stadium
San-Pedro, Ivory Coast
Tuesday, 30 January 2024
Kick-off is at 22h00
Just seven months after their last meeting, Morocco and South Africa will lock horns in the
2023 Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 at the Laurent Pokou Stadium on Tuesday, January 30.
The two teams were drawn together in Group K in qualifying for the continental showpiece, with the Atlas Lions winning 2-1 in Rabat on 9 June 2022 before Bafana Bafana triumphed by the same scoreline in Johannesburg one year later.
They have met five times at AFCON down the years and South Africa lead 2-1 in their encounters, although Morocco won 1-0 most recently during the 2019 edition.
Walid Regragui's side got off to a flying start in Ivory Coast after beating Tanzania 3-0, but they were held to a 1-1 draw by DR Congo and clinched top spot in Group F with a narrow 1-0 victory over Zambia on January 24.
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Bafana Bafana capitalised on Tunisia's poor form to finish second in Group E on four points, having bounced back from a 2-0 defeat to Mali first up by thumping neighbours Namibia 4-0 before playing out to a 0-0 draw with the Eagles of Carthage on January 24.
Sofyan Amrabat continues to prove himself as a vital cog in the team under Regragui despite struggling to produce his best form for Manchester United in the first half of the 2023-24 season. The 27-year-old defensive midfielder has played every minute of the North Africans' three group games, only one of four players to do so.
Themba Zwane has been immense for Hugo Broos' side since making his return to the international fold in 2022 after being deemed too old to play for his country. The 34-year-old attacking midfielder has started all three group encounters and showed his class against the Brave Warriors with two well-taken goals.
Image copyright: Getty Images
Regragui, who will serve the second of his two-match ban against Bafana Bafana, denied claims from Chancel Mbemba that he had made racist remarks towards the DR Congo captain during their fiery exchange on the pitch after of the 1-1 draw on January 24, which sparked a scuffle between both camps.
"I held his hand, and he started screaming as is evident in pictures and the widely circulated videos," Regragui told L'Equipe.
"I really didn't like these dishonest claims. Since he only talks about religion in his statement to the press, let him be a little honest with himself."
Broos is happy with the progress made since he took charge of South Africa and believes the quality is there in his squad to go all the way in Ivory Coast.
"We had a difficult group with Tunisia, Mali and Namibia, but we did well. So, we began a new competition in the next round," the Belgian said. "We aim to qualify to the final, why not? We have a good team and I'm very confident.
"You always have to have some goals to achieve. Our first goal was to pass the group stages, even if we were not in an easy group with Tunisia and Mali.
"That means that we progressed a lot and that we have to believe in our qualities, even though there are still some people who don't believe, so there is quality."
Morocco v South Africa Head-to-Head:
Matches - 8
Morocco wins - 2
South Africa wins - 3
Draws - 3
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