Close Menu
The Standard  Digital
    What's Hot

    Sports teams seeking excellence amidst various challenges

    June 26, 2025

    Cryptocurrency: a tale of risk and regret

    June 25, 2025

    Foods that help or harm your teeth

    June 24, 2025
    1 2 3 … 333 Next

    Sports teams seeking excellence amidst various challenges

    June 26, 2025

    Cryptocurrency: a tale of risk and regret

    June 25, 2025

    Foods that help or harm your teeth

    June 24, 2025

    Weight of expectations: The struggle of being a first-born

    June 20, 2025
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Trending
    • Sports teams seeking excellence amidst various challenges
    • Cryptocurrency: a tale of risk and regret
    • Foods that help or harm your teeth
    • Weight of expectations: The struggle of being a first-born
    • Is making a friend better than dating them?
    • Why are men often seen as less effective parents?
    • UCU SJMC celebrates students
    • How a cough syrup is derailing university dreams
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    The Standard  DigitalThe Standard  Digital
    Subscribe
    Tuesday, July 1
    • Home
    • Features
    • Opinion
    • Religion
    • Life Style
    • Pictorial
    • Sports
    • Podcasts
    • E-paper
    The Standard  Digital
    Home»Slider

    South Africa cages Morocco Atlas Lions

    The Standard EditorBy The Standard EditorJanuary 31, 2024Updated:February 1, 2024 Slider No Comments3 Mins Read
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    By Ronald Ocweo

    Courtesy Video

    First half

    South Africa defeated Morocco in a tight Round of 16 clash at the Stade de San Pedro on Tuesday, January 30th.

    South Africa was considered the underdog in this match due to the vast difference in market values between the Atlas Lions and Bafana Bafana.

    Transfermarkt.com values the South African squad at 23.03 million euros, while Morocco is valued at 347.60 million euros, which is about 324.57 million euros more.

    However, evidence has shown that statistics are less valuable for the 2023 edition of the AFCON. This match was highly anticipated by both sides, and South Africa’s Bafana Bafana outperformed Morocco’s Atlas Lions.

    South Africa started the match with high enthusiasm, with Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Teboho Mokoena taking a long-range shot that tested the Moroccan goalkeeper, Yassine Bounou, who made an uncomfortable save.

    South Africa appeared more motivated to score, as Teboho Mokoena’s set piece missed the target, causing panic for the Atlas Lions.

    During the first half of the game, Morocco and Bayer Leverkusen forward Amine Adli had a chance to put the Atlas Lions into the lead. However, he couldn’t convert it from close range due to the pressure from Bafana Bafana defender Grant Kekana.

    Youssef En-Nesyri, the forward for both Morocco and Sevilla, came close to giving his team the lead in the first half, but his effort missed the target.

    Second half

    Marseille midfielder Azzedine Ounahi missed a shot within the six-yard box following a Moroccan offensive play, reminiscent of South Africa’s prior enthusiasm.

    However, South Africa responded to this thrilling encounter with improved offensive play. Orlando Pirates forward Evidence Makgopa converted a Sphephelo Sithole pass, giving Bafana Bafana the lead in the 57th minute.

    In a quest to respond to South Africa’s lead, Spanish-based Moroccan midfielder Abde Ezzalzouli fired a close-range shot, an effort comfortably saved by Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.

    With a ladder to climb, Morocco looked like the dominant team. They came close to scoring with a shot from Ayoub El Kabi that was blocked by defender Mothobi Mvala.

    Moroccan players contested a defensive block made by Mvala. They demanded that a VAR review be conducted to check for a possible penalty, as they believed that Mvala had committed a handball. The players’ protests prompted the referee, Mahmood Ali Mahmoud Ismail from Sudan, to intervene and grant their request.

    The Sudanese official awarded a penalty to Morocco after a VAR review, thereby bringing the North African team closer to equalizing. However, Achraf Hakimi hit the crossbar and denied the Atlas Lions a goal from the penalty spot.

    After a push on Teboho Mokoena, Sofyan Amrabat, the Moroccan and Manchester United midfielder, received a red card due to his excessive force and physicality during the match.

    This not only resulted in Morocco playing with 10 men, but it also allowed South Africa to convert from a set-piece just outside the six-yard box.

    📹 HIGHLIGHTS: 🇲🇦 0-2 🇿🇦

    Bafana Bafana snatched the win with two goals and qualified to the next round! ⚽️⚽️#MARRSA | #TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 | @Football2Gether

    — CAF_Online (@CAF_Online) January 31, 2024

    South Africa secured a 2-0 win over Morocco after Teboho Mokoena scored in stoppage time past Yassine Bounou.

    South Africa will play against Cape Verde on February 3, 2024, at Stade Charles Konan Banny de Yamoussoukro.

    Share this:

    • Share
    • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
    • Click to print (Opens in new window)

    Related

    The Standard Editor

    This is the digital news site of the Uganda Christian University community newspaper, "The Standard". The Standard newspaper was established in May 2007 under, formerly Department, but now School of Journalism, Media & Communication.

    Keep Reading

    Sports teams seeking excellence amidst various challenges

    UCU SJMC celebrates students

    MP for Mukono Municipality: Who are the contenders?

    Guild President launches fully funded tuition aid scheme

    Africa’s literary titan Ngugi rests

    Double delight for UCU basketball at YMCA

    Recent Posts
    • Sports teams seeking excellence amidst various challenges
    • Cryptocurrency: a tale of risk and regret
    • Foods that help or harm your teeth
    • Weight of expectations: The struggle of being a first-born
    • Is making a friend better than dating them?

    Subscribe to News

    Get the latest sports news from NewsSite about world, sports and politics.

    Advertisement
    Demo
    About
    Recent Posts
    • Sports teams seeking excellence amidst various challenges
    • Cryptocurrency: a tale of risk and regret
    • Foods that help or harm your teeth
    • Weight of expectations: The struggle of being a first-born
    • Is making a friend better than dating them?
    Recent Posts
    • Sports teams seeking excellence amidst various challenges
    • Cryptocurrency: a tale of risk and regret
    • Foods that help or harm your teeth
    • Weight of expectations: The struggle of being a first-born
    • Is making a friend better than dating them?
    Recent Posts

    Sports teams seeking excellence amidst various challenges

    June 26, 2025

    Cryptocurrency: a tale of risk and regret

    June 25, 2025

    Foods that help or harm your teeth

    June 24, 2025

    Weight of expectations: The struggle of being a first-born

    June 20, 2025
    1 2 3 … 279 Next

    The Main Campus situated at Mukono, UCU Kampala Campus, UCU Arua Campus, Bishop Barham University College in Kabale and UCU Mbale University College.

    We're social. Connect with us:

    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

    © 2025 The Standard. Designed by UIS.
    • Home
    • Sports

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.