Bafana Bafana began their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign a with a 2-1 loss to Morocco on Thursday evening.
Result: Morocco 2-1 South Africa
Date: 09 June 2022
Venue: Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium
Bafana coach Hugo Broos made wholesale changes to the side that was hammered by France in March, with Portugal-based Sphephelo Sithole and Taariq Fielies making their debuts, while Percy Tau was recalled.
With the visitors threatening on counter-attacks early on, Lyle Foster silenced the home crowed eight minutes into the clash with a low finish towards the near post after he broke the line from Sithole's long pass.
The Atlas Lions upped their tempo and should have been level in the first quarter of an hour but goalkeeper Ronwen Williams denied Youssef En-Nesyri twice in as many minutes.
It became a one-way traffic for Morocco as the game progressed and Ilias Chair also had a chance ten minutes before the halftime break after cutting in the box but his cracking strike was saved by Williams, who produced another fine save to deny Achraf Hakimi minutes later.
Bafana were not allowed to settle in the second stanza as En-Nesyri equalised for Vahid Halilhodzic's charges five minutes from the break with a free header from close range after getting on the end of Romain Saiss's header.
With South Africa under pressure, Broos looked to manage the game with a double change on the hour-mark, as midfielders Yusuf Maart and Phathutshedzo Nange replaced attackers Thembinkosi Lorch and Foster.
The changes had a positive effect for Bafana as they were able to break away on counter-attacks and Maart had a chance to restore the lead for the visitors after a cut-back by Tau but he blazed his effort over the crossbar.
However, Morocco kept on coming in numbers got their reward through substitute Ayoub El Kaabi's first-time volley at the near post after a cross by Amine Harit.
Morocco: Bonou, Masina, Aguerd, Saiss, Hakimi, Amrabat, Barkok, Amallah, Chair, Tissoudali, En-Nesyri
South Africa: Williams, Mudau, Fielies, Kekana, L.Lakay, Phete, Sithole, Mosele, Tau, Lorch, Foster.
Subs Mothwa, Bvuma, Mobbie, Maart, Nange, Shandu, Hlongwane, Mayo, F. Lakay, Makgopa.
