Morocco coach Walid Regragui has admitted to being less concerned about losing 2-1 against South Africa in their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture at FNB Stadium on Saturday.
Playing at home, Bafana Bafana took an early lead in the fourth minute after goalkeeper Munir Mohamedi put the ball into his own net while under pressure to save a shot from Percy Tau and they were 2-0 up in the 48th minute courtesy of Zakhele Lepasa’s well struck effort.
Though the Atlas Lions pulled a goal back through Hakim Ziyech in the 60th minute, it was not enough as South Africa held on to emerge victorious and avenge the first-round meeting which Morocco won 2-1 in Rabat.
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Speaking to the media after the contest, the 47-year-old Regragui said he was not entirely disheartened by the defeat, insisting it was good for his side’s preparations for Ivory Coast next year.
“As I said before, I don’t care if I lose two or three games before Afcon but there were important lessons that we learnt today. In the second half, we gave more intensity but, in the end, Bafana Bafana deserve the victory,” he said as quoted by CafOnline adding: “I changed a lot to see other players and that is what I wanted to see in this game.
“Some of what I saw, I am happy and the others, not so happy, so this game was good to take some lessons ahead of Afcon because there is still a lot of work to be done.”
On the qualities of South Africa, the former Wydad AC coach said: “I know Bafana Bafana is a big team. They have very good technical players and I think South Africa can be a big surprise with this kind of spirit. I also know how South Africans love football and how much they have good players like players from Mamelodi Sundowns who play in a good league. They did well today and deserve the victory.”
Morocco and South Africa have already qualified for Ivory Coast finals with a match to spare. The win saw Bafana Bafana claim the top spot in the group with seven points, the Atlas Lions are second with six, Liberia third on one, and Zimbabwe are last with no points.