AFCON 2023: South Africa beat Morocco to book quarter-final ticket; Mali edge Burkina Faso to advance
South Africa produced one of the major upsets in this year’s AFCON after knocking ‘favorites’ Morocco out with a 2-0 win in the round of 16.
The first half saw few goalscoring opportunities being created.
The Atlas Lions of Morocco got the best chance of the first half but saw their goal being disallowed by the VAR.
The second half was opposite to what the first half provided in-terms of drama and goals.
South Africa took the lead in the 57th minute when striker Evidence Makgopa connected to a pass inside the 18-yard box to hit the ball into the bottom right corner of the net.
After going down, Morocco had just one mission, to equalize. This led to the introduction more forwards.
Morocco were awarded a penalty in the 83rd minute when a ball hit the hands of Teboho Mokoena in the South African 18-yard box and a penalty was awarded after VAR review.
Achraf Hakimi stepped up to convert but he ended up hitting the ball against the crossbar and his effort went off the pitch.
Huge relief it was for South Africa after the miss but the pressure was still on them.
Sofyan Amrabat was shown the exit after a challenge on a Mokoena as last man and was shown a second yellow, which was upgraded to a straight red after VAR review by referee Mahmood Ismail
South Africa took advantage of the numerical disadvantage and added the second goal to seal the game thanks to a wonderful free kick by Teboho Mokoena.
South Africa will play Cape Verde on Saturday, February 3 at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium in Yamoussoukro at the quarter-finals.
Mali also advanced to the quarter finals after a nail-biting 2-1 win over Burkina Faso in Korhogo.
An unfortunate own goal by Edmond Tabsoba along with a second half strike by Lassine Sinayoko were enough for the Eagles to soar over the Stallions at a packed Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium.
It took just 3 minutes for Mali to take the lead after a powerful Amadou Haidara header came off the woodwork, but instead of it being cleared away, Edmond Tabsoba was unfortunate to see his clearance go into his own net.
Minutes later, Kamory Doumbia, who was a handful for the Burkinabe defense almost doubled his side’s lead after a great build up saw him through on goal, but his effort was denied by the advancing Kouakou Koffi.
A golden opportunity fell the way of the in-form Sinayoko to double the lead after doing well to turn his marker to unleash a powerful effort that was denied by the alert Koffi in the 35th minute.
Carried by the momentum, the Eagles continued surging forward but wasted numerous opportunities as they took the slender lead into the break.
Returning from the recess, Sinayoko capitalized on a lapse of concentration after beating the offside trap to face the keeper and comfortably slot home with just minutes into the restart.
A lifeline was given to the Stallions after Mohamed Konate’s headed effort came off the arm of Boubacar Kouyate for VAR to award the penalty that was converted by skipper, Bertrand Traore in the 57th minute.
The Stallions eventually gained their rhythm and piled on the pressure, but a resolute Mali defense kept them at bay, as the Eagles soar into the quarter-finals to face tournament hosts, Cote d’Ivoire on Saturday, 3 February in Bouake.
