Morocco Hosts South Africa in Crucial Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier

The Atlas Lions will do everything to snatch the victory against the Bafana Bafana, even if they regret the injury of Munir El Haddadi, who joins the ranks of the big absentees from this match, along with Soufiane Boufal and Ryan Mmaee. For the moment, Zakaria Aboukhlal’s participation is still uncertain. As for the Bafana Bafana, they started their preparation on Monday on the annex field of the Moulay Abdellah Complex, with the hope of snatching at least a draw.

Criticized from all sides since Morocco’s defeat against the United States in Cincinnati, national coach Vahid Halilhodzic will have to review his strategies and offer another show next Thursday at the Moulay Abdellah complex in Rabat. The planned changes in the starting lineup mainly concern the defense and attack, with the return of Noussair Mazraoui, the arrival of Yahya Attiyat Allah and Jaouad El Yamiq as reinforcements.

The coach could line up the Soufiane Rahimi and Youssef En-Nesyri combination on the offensive flank to replace the Ayoub El Kaâbi-Tarik Tissoudali combination which did not work too well in Cincinnati.

Since their arrival on Sunday in Morocco, the Bafana Bafana have held their first two training sessions on Monday in Rabat. Hugo Broos and his men do not want to give any gifts to the Atlas Lions, even if they are playing the match in front of their supporters known for their strength of support. "We have to be competitive and I always hope to get off to a good start in the first game and avoid defeat. A draw would not be a bad result, it would give us confidence."

The Morocco-South Africa match is this Thursday at the Moulay Abdellah Complex in Rabat. Tunisian Sadeq Essalmi has been appointed as the central referee for the match. Tickets are already on sale on the FRMF official website.