South Africa stunned tournament favorites Morocco with a 2-0 victory in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Round of 16, while Mali secured a spot in the quarter-finals with a 2-1 win against Burkina Faso.
Evidence Makgopa and Teboho Mokoena delivered the goals for South Africa in the second half, sealing a historic win. Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi missed a penalty, contributing to their unexpected defeat.
Since their impressive World Cup run two years ago, where they reached the semi-finals, Morocco has now suffered two defeats in 13 matches, both inflicted by South Africa. The loss adds Morocco to the list of top-ranked teams exiting the tournament early.
Mali, on the other hand, overcame Burkina Faso with a 2-1 victory, securing their place in the quarter-finals. Lassine Sinayoko’s crucial goal played a key role in Mali’s triumph.
The shocking results continue to reshape the AFCON landscape, with defending champions Senegal, Tunisia, Algeria, Cameroon, and Burkina Faso also among the top teams making early exits.
The quarter-finals will see South Africa face Cape Verde, Ivory Coast against Mali, Nigeria against Angola, and the Democratic Republic of Congo against Guinea. The upcoming clashes promise more thrilling encounters in the quest for AFCON glory.
