The reverse fixture in June last year saw Morocco come from behind to secure all three points in Rabat thanks to second-half goals from Youssef En-Nesyri and Ayoub El Kaabi.
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South Africa will host Morocco in a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers at the FNB stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday. The Atlas Lions are heading into the match on the back of a goalless draw against Cape Verde in an international friendly last Tuesday, while the hosts were previously in action in March, getting the better of Liberia 2-1 in the AFCON qualifier. As of now, the visitors are occupying top spot in Group K, having taken six points from two games, and have sealed their place in the group stages of next years competition, while the visitors are sitting at the second spot, separated by just two points.
آخر حصة تدريبية للمنتخب الوطني قبل لقاء الغد أمام منتخب جنوب إفريقيا 🇿🇦
📷 Last Training session for our #AtlasLions before facing South Africa tomorrow#DimaMaghrib 🇲🇦 #TeamMorocco pic.twitter.com/5t8YrBjXyj
— Équipe du Maroc (@EnMaroc) June 16, 2023
South Africa got the better of Liberia at SKD Stadium in Paynesville on March 28 thanks to Zakhele Lapasa’s 19th-minute opener and Mihlali Mayambela’s 53rd-minute winner. The result extended their unbeaten run to six games across all competitions, recording four wins in the process. Bafana Bafana, who failed to qualify for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, have made a slow start to their quest for a place in finals of the continental competition in January next year, starting with a 2-1 defeat to Morocco, before taking four points from their next two games against Liberia.
Morocco, on the other hand, started pretty well, taking a maximum of six points from their opening two games against South Africa and Liberia. Walid Regragui’s men defeated Bafana Bafana in Rabat on June 10 last year, before putting two goals past Liberia without reply at Stade Mohammed V four days later, thanks to second-half efforts from Faycal Fajr and Yousseg En-Nesyri. After that, the Atlas Lions travelled to Qatar for the World Cup, creating history by becoming the first African outfit to reach the semi-finals of the tournament. Meanwhile, last time out, the Lions were held to a 0-0 draw by Cape Verde despite fielding stars like Achraf Hakimi, Sofiyan Amrabat and Hakim Ziyech.
South Africa probable starting lineup: Williams, Maela, Xulu, Mvala, Mobbie, Mokoena, Blom, Mayambela, Tau, Maseko, Lepasa
Morocco probable starting lineup: Bono, Hakimi, Aguerd, Saiss, Mazraoui, Sabiri, Amrabat, Louza, Ziyech, Boufal, En-Nesyri
South Africa
| Opponents | Score |
| Liberia | 1-2 (W) |
| Liberia | 2-2 (D) |
| Angola | 1-1 (D) |
| Mozambique | 2-1 (W) |
| Botswana | 1-0 (W) |
Morocco
| Opponents | Score |
| Cape Verde | 0-0 (D) |
| Peru | 0-0 (D) |
| Brazil | 2-1 (W) |
| Ghana | 3-0 (L) |
| Madagascar | 0-3 (L) |
| Last 5 match-results | Score |
| Morocco beat South Africa | 2-1 |
| Morocco beat South Africa | 0-1 |
| Morocco draw South Africa | 1-1 |
| Morocco draw South Africa | 2-2 |
| Morocco draw South Africa | 1-1 |
The Africa Cup on Nations qualifier between South Africa and Morocco will take place at FNB stadium on Saturday at 8:30 pm IST.
| South Africa vs Morocco | Key Details |
| Date | June 17 |
| Venue | FNB Stadium |
| Kickoff time in South Africa | 5:00 pm |
| Kickoff time in Morocco | 4:00 pm |
| Kickoff time in India | 8:30 pm |
Football fans in Morocco can catch the live action via beIN Sports network. Meanwhile, those in South Africa can watch the match on SABC, Supersport and Star Times network.
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