The Atlas Lions of Morocco were shockingly eliminated in the Africa Cup of Nations as they lost 2-0 to one of their bogey sides in the tournament South Africa.
The Maghribian giants carried high hopes into the competition following their wonderful display at the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
The triumph over Belgium, Croatia, Spain and Portugal pegged them at the top raising expectations of their AFCON winning ambition.
But the Lions failed to roar when they came up against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa on Tuesday evening.
Evidence Makgopa shot South Africa in front with 56th minute strike before Teboho Mokoena fired home a brilliant free-kick to steal the show for the Boys Boys with a 2-0 score.
Morocco’s elimination means all the North African teams are out of the competition.
Tunisia and Algeria bowed out after group stages as none of them won a game in the group phase.
Ahead of the game with South Africa, Morocco were the only hope for North Africa as Egypt had already lost to DR Congo on penalties following a 1-1 draw in San Pedro.
The elimination of Morocco is a repetition of the 2013 AFCON where all the North African sides were eliminated from the competition before the quarter finals.
Morocco will have to wait to host the tournament next year to rekindle their desire to win the AFCON trophy which has eluded them since 1976.
By: Awal Mohammed Hudu, Kessben FM, Kumasi