Cheered by a strong show against Morocco, how would Bafana have fared against Zim?

BAFANA Bafana lost their opening 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier 2-1 against Morocco on Thursday.

They were set to take on the Warriors of Zimbabwe yesterday in the second match of the qualifiers.

However, that match could not go ahead as scheduled because the Warriors remain suspended from international football.

The two teams met in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers and Bafana Bafana won 1-0 at home while the other match ended in a goalless draw in Harare.

No one knows how the latest match could have panned.

However, Bafana Bafana would have come into the game bubbling with confidence after their courageous showing against Morocco.

It was the second consecutive qualification campaign that Bafana Bafana have started off with a defeat (2-0 against Ghana ahead of AFCON 2021).

And, we all know how that campaign turned out!

Badly.

However, this time around it feels as if Bafana Bafana are destined to qualify as there are now only three countries in their Group K following the banishment of Zimbabwe.

The third country is Liberia who are one of the minnows of African – and world – football.

The top two countries in each group will progress to next year’s tournament in the Ivory Coast.

Post-match Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos said he was “not disappointed by the performance, just the result”.

Lyle Foster gave Bafana Bafana a surprise 1-0 lead in the eighth minute, a lead they held until the half-time break.

Youssef En-Nesyri equalised for Morocco in the 51st minute before Ayoub El Kaabi scored the winner in the 87th minute.

Despite the narrow margin of victory, there was a clear gulf in class between the two sides.

Bafana Bafana scored with the only shot they had on target all 90 minutes while Morocco had 10.

Morocco dominated every statistical category and Bafana Bafana will certainly need to improve going forward. – Sports Reporter/www.msn.com