South Africa 0-1 Morocco: Mbark Boussoufa scores late winner

Morocco were quarter-finalists at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2017

South Africa will have to wait to discover whether they have qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations last 16 after Morocco scored a late winner.

Mbark Boussoufa netted from close range after a 90th-minute free-kick in Cairo.

It earned Morocco a third successive 1-0 win and sealed top spot in Group D.

With Ivory Coast beating Namibia in the other game to finish second in the group, South Africa finished with three points but could still qualify as one of four best third-placed teams.

South Africa went close through Percy Tau but struggled to create chances against a Morocco side that had already qualified for the knockout stage and always looked the more likely to score.

Achraf Hakimi hit South Africa's bar before Boussoufa found the target in the closing moments after South Africa had failed to deal with a free-kick.

'South Africa didn't get close to scoring'

Nick Cavell, BBC World Service in Cairo

Morocco knew they were already through and came out with that kind of attitude. They were happy to control and soak up the ball and attack when the opportunity arose without taking any risks.

South Africa really did struggle to get into the game. They couldn't get close to scoring.

They now must pray that four teams fail to win tomorrow to have any chance of reaching the last 16. If four teams lose they could still just edge through to the next round.

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

South Africa

• 22Williams
• 5Mkhize
• 14Hlatshwayo
• 2Mkhwanazi
• 18Hlanti
• 10Serero
• 12Mokotjo
• 8ZunguBooked at 31minsSubstituted forKekanaat 81'minutes
• 19Tau
• 9MothibaSubstituted forVeldwijkat 73'minutes
• 11ZwaneBooked at 18minsSubstituted forVilakaziat 75'minutes

Substitutes

• 1Keet
• 3Maela
• 4Cardoso
• 6Mphahlele
• 7Maboe
• 13Mabunda
• 16Bvuma
• 17Vilakazi
• 20Kekana
• 21Veldwijk
• 23Lorch

Morocco

• 12Mohamedi
• 3MazraouiSubstituted forDirarat 75'minutes
• 4da Costa
• 6Saïss
• 2Hakimi
• 8El AhmadiSubstituted forAït Bennasserat 54'minutes
• 14Boussoufa
• 7ZiyechSubstituted forFajrat 89'minutes
• 10Belhanda
• 16N Amrabat
• 19En-Nesyri

Substitutes

• 1Bono
• 5Benatia
• 9Boufal
• 11Fajr
• 13Boutaïb
• 15Aït Bennasser
• 17Dirar
• 18Bourabia
• 20Idrissi
• 21Abdelhamid
• 22Tagnaouti
• 23Baadi

Referee:

Jean-Jacques Ndala Ngambo

Attendance:

12,098

Match Stats

Home TeamSouth AfricaAway TeamMorocco

Possession

Home41%

Away59%

Shots

Home2

Away11

Shots on Target

Home0

Away3

Corners

Home3

Away0

Fouls

Home21

Away12

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, South Africa 0, Morocco 1.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+3'

Second Half ends, South Africa 0, Morocco 1.

Goal!

Posted at 90'

Goal! South Africa 0, Morocco 1. Moubarak Boussoufa (Morocco) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the high centre of the goal following a set piece situation.

Substitution

Posted at 89'

Substitution, Morocco. Faycal Fajr replaces Hakim Ziyech.

Posted at 89'

Younès Belhanda (Morocco) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 89'

Foul by Thamsanqa Mkhize (South Africa).

Posted at 86'

Nabil Dirar (Morocco) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 86'

Foul by Lars Veldwijk (South Africa).

Posted at 86'

Attempt missed. Moubarak Boussoufa (Morocco) right footed shot from outside the box is too high following a set piece situation.

Posted at 86'

Attempt blocked. Hakim Ziyech (Morocco) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Posted at 85'

Moubarak Boussoufa (Morocco) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 85'

Foul by Thulani Serero (South Africa).

Posted at 82'

Romain Saïss (Morocco) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 82'

Foul by Sibusiso Vilakazi (South Africa).

Substitution

Posted at 81'

Substitution, South Africa. Hlompho Kekana replaces Bongani Zungu.

Posted at 79'

Younès Belhanda (Morocco) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 79'

Foul by Sibusiso Vilakazi (South Africa).

Substitution

Posted at 75'

Substitution, South Africa. Sibusiso Vilakazi replaces Themba Zwane.

Substitution

Posted at 75'

Substitution, Morocco. Nabil Dirar replaces Noussair Mazraoui.

Posted at 75'

Foul by Youssef Aït Bennasser (Morocco).

Posted at 75'

Thulani Serero (South Africa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 75'

Manuel da Costa (Morocco) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 75'

Foul by Lars Veldwijk (South Africa).

Posted at 74'

Foul by Achraf Hakimi (Morocco).

Posted at 74'

Thamsanqa Mkhize (South Africa) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 73'

Attempt saved. Youssef En-Nesyri (Morocco) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Nordin Amrabat with a cross.

Substitution

Posted at 73'

Substitution, South Africa. Lars Veldwijk replaces Lebo Mothiba.

Posted at 71'

Hakim Ziyech (Morocco) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 71'

Foul by Percy Tau (South Africa).

Posted at 69'

Foul by Hakim Ziyech (Morocco).

Posted at 69'

Bongani Zungu (South Africa) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 68'

Attempt missed. Youssef En-Nesyri (Morocco) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right misses to the right. Assisted by Nordin Amrabat with a through ball.

Posted at 64'

Achraf Hakimi (Morocco) hits the bar with a right footed shot from outside the box. Assisted by Hakim Ziyech.

Posted at 63'

Nordin Amrabat (Morocco) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 63'

Foul by Themba Zwane (South Africa).

Posted at 62'

Foul by Hakim Ziyech (Morocco).

Posted at 62'

Bongani Zungu (South Africa) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 60'

Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 60'

Foul by Percy Tau (South Africa).

Posted at 60'

Foul by Manuel da Costa (Morocco).

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