Morocco Seeks Redemption Against South Africa in Crucial AFCON Qualifier

The match starts at 8:00 p.m. at the Prince Moulay Abdellah sports complex in Rabat for the first round of group K. The Atlas Lions cannot afford to make a mistake and will have to present a better picture than that of Cincinnati. Even if it was a friendly match, Moroccan supporters did not expect such a drubbing (3-0). The match against South Africa will serve as a test for the national team.

Many shortcomings were revealed during this match and Coach Vahid will have to correct them to allow the national team to give a performance worthy of its reputation. Even if the Bafana Bafana fear the Atlas Lions who, according to coach Hugo Bross, have some significant advantages, it must be said that the South African selection is made up of players with enormous potential, capable of shaking the Moroccan defense.

Moreover, the Bafana Bafana coach hinted that he had a plan to beat the Atlas Lions. "Morocco is a good team, it is also a team that we know well, we know its players [...] we have a plan, we will see if it will work on match day," Broos told the press. "We know what we have to do, but the most important thing is to go there with confidence and in the right frame of mind [...] if we go there with fear, it’s better to stay at home," added the Bafana Bafana coach.

Vahid Halilhodzic is aware of the stakes of the match against the South Africans. "We are all a bit disappointed after this defeat against the United States. We have to learn lessons from it because it gives us indications. We were less realistic, but I knew from the start that it would be difficult. Especially physically, we are not at the top of our form," he had said in dissecting the defeat of the Nationals against the USA.

The national team will therefore have to rectify the situation this Thursday evening, but it will not be easy, as Morocco has already lost twice against South Africa, won once and drawn 3 times. Will Morocco succeed in restoring the confidence of the supporters? The answer is Thursday evening at the Moulay Abdellah sports complex in Rabat.