The Moroccan national team overturned its goal to beat South Africa 2-1, on Thursday, in the first round of Group 11 of the African Nations Cup qualifiers in Ivory Coast 2023.

Morocco leads the group with 3 points, while South Africa is bottom of the group, accompanied by Liberia, who was resting after the exclusion of Zimbabwe due to the international suspension.

The Moroccan national team will visit Liberia on Tuesday in Casablanca, after the Liberian Football Association chose to host its matches at home in Morocco.

The Moroccan team, which was supported by more than 45,000 fans, was surprised at the Moulay Abdallah stadium in the capital, Rabat, with a goal against the course of play after 8 minutes, after a quick counter-attack ended by Lyle Brent Foster in the net of goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.

🥅⚽️ Foster surprises the Moroccan team and scores the first goals of the match# African Nations Cup Qualifiers# AFCON2023Q pic.twitter.com/10g1LfG9U1

— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) June 9, 2022

The Moroccan team, which qualified for the sixth time in its history and the second successively to the World Cup finals, tried to return quickly, but its players lacked effectiveness, as the South African goalkeeper saved many attempts.

Morocco coach Vahid Halilhodzic was subjected to a storm of attack and boos from the Moroccan public, angry at the decline of his team's level and its delay with a goal in the first half.

Morocco recovers in the second half

After an attacking uprising by the Atlas Lions in the second half, Morocco equalized 5 minutes into the second half with a header by striker Youssef Nasiri.

🥅⚽️ Youssef Al-Nusairi stamps the equalizer for Morocco # African Nations Cup Qualifiers # AFCON2023Q pic.twitter.com/mX2ACQ2YQl

— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) June 9, 2022

Morocco continued to search for the addition of the second goal, especially after making offensive changes. Substitute Amin Harith was close to hitting the net in the 83rd minute after an individual effort, but his ground shot turned the defense into a corner.

While the match was going to the end, and 3 minutes before the end of the original time, substitute Yahya Attia Allah passed the ball to make the substitute Ayoub Al Kaabi scored the winning goal and ignited great joy in the stands.

It is noteworthy that Group 11 includes 3 teams: Morocco, Zimbabwe and South Africa.