Bafana Bafana will begin their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers journey against Morocco on Thursday evening.
Teams: Morocco v South Africa
Date: 09 June 2022
Venue: Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium
Time: 21h00
Bafana will be looking to get a good start in Group K that has only three teams, including Liberia, after Zimbabwe were disqualified by FIFA.
South Africa did not qualify for the previous edition in Cameroon under former coach Molefi Ntseki after finising behind Ghana and Sudan.
Bafana will be without left-back Terrence Mashego withdrew from the squad due to a knee injury.
On the other hand, Morocco will be looking to maintain their pedigree, as they participated in the previous Afcon tournament and reached the quarter-finals before being knocked out by Egypt in extra-time.
The Atlas Lions also booked their spot in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar after hammering Democratic Republic of Congo 5-2 on aggregate in the play-offs round.
In head-to-head duels, these two sides have met six times before as Bafana have only lost once, which came in their last meeting at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations group stages.
Morocco: Bonou, Masina, Aguerd, Saiss, Hakimi, Amrabat, Barkok, Amallah, Chair, Tissoudali, En-Nesyri
South Africa: Williams, Mudau, Fielies, Kekana, L.Lakay, Phete, Sithole, Mosele, Tau, Lorch, Foster.
Subs Mothwa, Bvuma, Mobbie, Maart, Nange, Shandu, Hlongwane, Mayo, F. Lakay, Makgopa.
