Having lost to South Africa the last time they played each other, a Morocco coach has now declared that this time things will be different when they take on Bafana Bafana in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations' round of 16.
Atlas Lions assistant manager Rachid Benmahmoud has reflected on the last time the two sides clashed, in June last year, when South Africa ran away with a 2-1 victory in a qualifier for the latest AFCON.
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With the tournament now working its way towards its climax with the group stage officially over, the pair will face off once more, this time in the Round of 16.
Benmahmoud has admitted that their next opponents will be worthy adversaries but suggested that the upcoming encounter will not be similar to the previous match between them.
"The South African national team is always with us in the qualifiers," the assistant coach said.
"We faced them recently and were defeated by them.
"They are a good team, but the next match is completely different."
Bafana ended the group stage in second position in Group E despite suffering a 2-0 loss to Mali in their first match in the Ivory Coast, while the Atlas Lions finished top of Group F with two wins and a draw.
During their latest match, a 1-0 victory over Zambia, Morocco had to play without the presence of head coach Walid Regragui, who has since been handed a four-match ban as well as a $5 000 (around R94 500) fine by CAF following his bust-up with DR Congo captain Chancel Mbemba last weekend.
Benmahmoud opened up on what it was like to play without the side's manager on the sidelines, and defended him in his absence.
"Walid Regragui did a lot for African football and defended Moroccan and continental football. Our work was complementary as if he was with us today in the reserve bench. We received instructions from him, and you know the relationship that unites me with him," he said.
"We received the news, at three or four o'clock, and we certainly will not wait until this week to prepare. We were prepared and ready, along with the players, for all scenarios.
"It is difficult for Regragui to say bad words. Such decisions cannot be talked about further. I personally know what happened because I was present, and the player was the one who provoked us.
"In the end, the suspension came and we respect CAF for its decision, and we will take all methods that restore our right, and the Moroccan Federation will make every effort to achieve this."
Read: OFFICIAL: CAF penalises AFCON teams in big way after bust-up
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