 Morocco's Walid Regragui skips clear of South Africa's Sibusiso Zuma |
Morocco 1-1 South Africa
Morocco earned a quarter-final clash against Algeria after drawing with South Africa to top Group D.
The Atlas Lions conceded their first goal of the Cup of Nations when keeper Khalid Fouhami missed a routine cross, gifting Patrick Mayo an open goal.
Morocco drew level before half-time when Jaouad Zairi was felled in the penalty area, and Youssef Safri tucked home the spot-kick.
South Africa exit the competition after finishing third in the group.
Bafana Bafana had needed to win by four goals to reach the quarter-finals, a feat they have never failed to achieve at the Nations Cup, yet even when Mayo opened the scoring in the 30th minute this didn't look likely.
A rare mix-up in the Moroccan defence allowed the Kaizer Chiefs forward a clear sight of goal from six yards as Fouhami, who had not even conceded a goal during the Atlas Lions' qualifying campaign, spilled Siyabonga Nomvete's low cross.
Yet Morocco were stirred into action by the goalkeeping error and within minutes, livewire striker Jaouad Zairi had struck the angle of crossbar and post at the other end as his header powerfully connected with Youssef Mokhtari's free-kick.
 |  They were a physically tough side and we were concerned by them, but we had the right tactics to keep them at bay |
The 21-year-old was a constant menace to the Bafana Bafana defence, showing clever tricks and neat touches, yet it was merely his pace which won his team a penalty eight minutes from half-time as Neil Winstanley's poor challenge brought Zairi down.
Safri, a midfielder who plays for Coventry City, slotted the penalty low to the right-hand side of South African keeper Andre Arendse who was well-beaten despite diving the right way.
Red flares lit up the terraces of Sousse's Stade Olympique, but the celebrating Moroccan fans were disheartened to see Youssef Hadji, who impressed as Zairi's strike partner, pick up a yellow card for his needless challenge on Tehebo Mokoena soon after.
Despite Bafana Bafana coach April 'Styles' Phumo constantly urging his team forward in the second half, it was the Atlas Lions who created the first real chance after the break.
Zairi broke free down the right flank and crossed from the bye-line yet Mokhtari, who was steaming into the penalty area unmarked, failed to keep his first-time volley down and blazed over the bar from twelve yards out.
This was the closest Morocco came to taking a lead yet in truth, they looked content to let South Africa come at them and seek goals on the counter-attack instead.
The tactic nearly worked with just seven minutes left when Zairi once more skipped away from the South African defence, played in Hadji yet the latter's low strike from twelve yards out was well blocked by Arendse.
Just when it seemed South Africa had run out of ideas, Siyabonga Nomvete, who was in a position from where many would have opted to cross, hit the crossbar from 25 yards from an acute angle.
Yet it was too little too late and South Africa, whose pre-tournament preparations had clearly taken their toll on the team, made unwanted history as they failed to get out of their group.
Meanwhile, Atlas Lions coach Badou Zaki can look forward to the clash with Algeria knowing his well-drilled side has every chance of reaching their first Nations Cup semi-final since 1988.
Morocco: 1-Khalid Fouhami, 2-Walid Regragui, 4-Abdeslam Ouaddou, 5-Talal El Karkouri, 6-Noureddine Naybet, 8-Abdelkrim Kaissi, 13-Houcine Kharja, 15-Youssef Safri, 16-Youssef Mokhtari (11-Mohammed El Yaagoubi 82), 20-Youssef Hadji (10-Mourad Hdiouad 90), 7-Jaouad Zairi
South Africa: 1-Andre Arendse, 2-Thabang Molefe, 3-Jacob Lekgetho, 4-Aaron Mokoena, 17-Neil Winstanley, 5-Mbulelo Mabizela, 12-Tebeho Mokoena (20-Jabu Pule 82), 15-Sibusiso Zuma, 18-Delron Buckley (9-Nkosinathi Nhleko 62), 14-Siyabonga Nomvete, 21-Patrick Mayo
Referee: Hichem Guirat (Tunisia)
MMIX
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