In a stunning upset at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, talented midfielder Teboho Mokoena earned the Man of the Match title for his outstanding performance, contributing to South Africa's victory over tournament favorites Morocco.
The clash between the Atlas Lions of Morocco and the Bafana Bafana unfolded on Tuesday night in the Round of 16 fixture at Laurent Pokou Stadium. Despite Morocco's dominance, the first half concluded without any goals, thanks to resilient defending by the South African team.
In the 57th minute, against the run of play, Evidence Makgopa capitalized on South Africa's first significant chance to take the lead. Morocco had an opportunity to level the score in the 85th minute with a penalty, but Achraf Hakimi's kick hit the crossbar, thwarting their hopes.
In added time, Teboho Mokoena sealed the deal for South Africa with a remarkable direct free-kick, securing a 2-0 victory and eliminating Morocco from the tournament.
Teboho Mokoena's stellar performance earned him the Man of the Match accolade. The Bafana Bafana's unexpected triumph sets the stage for a quarter-final clash against Cape Verde in the 2023 AFCON.
