Morocco Welcomes South Africa to Rabat for Group K Opening Fixture in Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier

• Morocco host South Africa in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers later this evening, looking to make the home ground advantage count
• South Africa were beaten 5-0 in their last game, while Morocco were beaten 3-0 by the United States of America
• Liberia are the only other team in the group of three, with the top two teams qualifying for AFCON 2023

The quest to qualify for Ivory Coast 2023 kicks off today for Morocco and South Africa.

The two sides will contest the opening game of Group K in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The group also features one other team, Liberia. Zimbabwe were also in the group but were suspended by CAF before the start of the qualifiers.

Form going into the game

Morocco and Bafana both suffered humiliating defeats in the last games. Morocco were beaten by the United States of America 3-0, SportsMole reported, while Bafana were beaten 5-0 by France.

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Morocco’s defeat was also only their third loss in the last two years. Bafana have failed to win the last three games and failed to score in any of the games either.

Players to watch

Morocco are ranked 24th in the world and their star-studded team is a testament to that. Many of the team ply their trade in Europe at some of the continent’s biggest teams, Soccer Laduma reported.

One of those big-name players is Achraf Hakimi. The Paris Saint-Germain right-back has the ability to burst down the flank and produce dangerous crosses.

Percy Tau ranks as one of South Africa’s threats going into the game and will be looking to lead the team to glory. Tau has had his fair share of problems with Hugo Broos and hasn’t featured for Bafana in a while.

Thembinkosi Lorch is also rearing to go and looking to continue his recent rich vein of form for the national team.

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Predicted line-ups:

Morocco

Bono; Masina, Aguerd, Saiss, Mmaee, Hakimi; Ounahi, Amrabat, Taarabt; El Kaabi, En Nesyri

South Africa

Williams; Maela, Mobbie, Lakay, Phete; Morena, Maart, Maboe; Tau, Dolly, Makgopa

2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers: A look at Morocco and South Africa's past results ahead of key clash

Morocco will host South Africa in a headline clash in Rabat in Group K, with Liberia watching on from home. This is because Zimbabwe was disqualified from this phase of the competition due to political interference in the country's football federation.

According to statisticians 11v11, there is not much to separate the sides since they first met at the 1998 Africa Cup of Nations in Burkina Faso. In six previous meetings, Bafana Bafana has won two matches to the Atlas Lions' one, with three draws.

In the quarterfinal of AFCON 1998, Bafana defeated Morocco 2-1 as reported by KickOff. Then at the 2002 edition in the group stages, South Africa overwhelmed the North Africans 3-1 in Mali.

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Bafana, Banyana and Le Coq Sportif give football fans a chance to design 2023 South African national team kit

The South African national teams and Le Coq Sportif, are giving fans a chance to be part of history.

As reported by Sports Brief, Bafana Bafana and Banyana Banyana’s kit manufacturer is calling all designers to enter their new initiative. Football fans can design their own Bafana or Banyana kit, and submit the design to the manufacturer.

The winning entry will then be used to make the 2023 South African national team kits.