AFCON 2023: Bafana Bafana Defeats Morocco to Advance as Evidence Makgopa Proves Doubters Wrong

• Evidence Makgopa was the difference as Bafana Bafana beat Africa's highest-ranked team
• Bafana Bafana fought for all 90 minutes in the AFCON tie to deny Walid Regragui's Morocco
• Achraf Hakimi had a late chance to keep the Atlas Lions in the game but he missed his effort

Hugo Broos is beginning to make believers of a nation.

Criticised for his team selection and made to feel second-best by the PSL, the Belgian has crafted a vintage year with this Bafana Bafana squad.

Resolute defence, economical use of the ball, and a clinical finish by a constantly questioned striker when called upon sealed South Africa a beautiful win against CAF's 2023 International Team of the Year.

South Africa went with the same XI that started against Namibia and Tunisia, while Morocco had no Hakim Ziyech but welcomed backed Noussair Mazraoui

Percy Tau errors haunt South Africa as Mali find second-half form to crush Hugo Broos' hopes

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Ronwen Williams was a busy man early on and Bafana Bafana found little rhythm in the midfield against a compact and structured Atlas Lions squad.

Teboho Mokoena's snap-shot nearly caught Morocco's keeper off-guard and the shortest South African got his head from the resulting corner, flicking just over.

Evidence Makgopa kept Nyaef Aguerd busy in the first half but the experienced Premier League defender seemed to have his opponent pocketed.

Approaching the break, South Africa would have taken positives from agitatedly animated Walid Regragui who was frustrated at Morocco's lack of supremacy.

The second half began with the coach continuing to pace the touchline as his Atlas Lions threatened to wrestle momentum, only to have it counterpunched by Bafana or foiled by their own poor execution.

Makgopa then silenced the majority Moroccan crowd at 57 minutes with a neat finish after South Africa moved the ball precisely after taking a quick free kick.

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Going a goal down prompted an onslaught from Morocco and South African hearts almost broke with five minutes to go when Mothobi Mvala inadvertently handled a close-range shot that caused VAR to step in.

South Africa held their breath as golden boy, Achraf Hakimi clipped the top of the crossbar to preserve Ronwen Williams' clean sheet.

Sofyan Amrabat received a VAR-corrected red card for bringing down Makgopa on the edge of the box and Bafana's star on the night, Mokoena, curled in the final injury-time blow to send South Africa to the quarter-finals.

Bafana Bafana's route to the final

Sports Brief previously plotted a possible South Africa might take to the final of the AFCON 2023.

After beating Morocco, Bafana Bafana play Cape Verde before a possible semi-final against Nigeria.

Senegal and Egypt have been defeated in the other half of the bracket, putting the hosts back in it.