Bafana Bafana will get their toughest test yet in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations against Morocco in the last 16. Former Bafana coach Steve Komphela has revealed a worrying factor ahead of the knockout tie.
South Africa reached the round of 16 after playing to a goalless draw against Tunisia on Tuesday and set up a meeting with the Atlas Lions.
The two sides were in the same qualifying group, where they each won on home soil, although by the time Bafana beat Morocco in June last year, the North African side had already qualified.
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Bafana are missing the presence and the goal threat of Lyle Foster, who was unavailable to the nation due to mental health issues, despite currently playing for his club Burnley.
One of the worrying factors for South Africa is that striker Evidence Makgopa is yet to score in the tournament and does not get enough chances.
However, Komphela feels that the biggest headache for Bafana ahead of the clash against Morocco is that there is no adequate replacement for Themba Zwane, who won back-to-back Man of the Match awards in a 4-0 win over Namibia, where he grabbed a brace and won the award again against the Carthage Eagles.
Komphela says it's easy to replace the 34-year-old when the game demands a defensive player but what about when Bafana is chasing the game, who can replace him?
"When you take off 'Mshishi' and you put on (Thabang) Monare, they may not be a similar player and the purpose of that sub is to lock and close the game," Komphela said on SABC Sport TV.
"However, if we still needed to play for a goal and not kill time, when you take off Mshishi, which prototype, which player looks like Mshishi (on the bench)? Who is the Doctor Khumalo that you were going to put on there? That should be the question we should be asking ourselves," he said.
Bafana will be motivated against Morocco after they shocked hosts and record winners Egypt 1-0 in the round of 16 in the 2019 edition courtesy of a goal by Thembinkosi Lorch five minutes before time.
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