Bafana Bafana midfielder Teboho Mokoena said they worked tirelessly to prove critics wrong since their opening 2023 Africa Cup of Nations loss to Mali.
Mokoena, who turned 27 last week, pulled off a midfield masterclass, capped off with a stunning late free-kick in the 2-0 win over Morocco on Tuesday evening which sent Bafana Bafana into the quarter-finals.
And he said it was deserved for the squad, who were determined to silence the doubters after the loss to Mali by advancing into the latter stages of the continental showpiece.
“Nobody gave us a chance after the first game we lost to Mali, but we came back strong, improved and worked very hard to be where we are now,” Mokoena said after winning Man of the Match in the 2-0 win over Morocco.
“We knew Morocco are very strong on the [wings], they overload the sides with Hakmi, Ounahi, and the other winger, so we dealt with that and closed their game plan because their central midfield didn’t know where to pass the ball.”
Mokoena will be aiming to replicate his scintillating form for South Africa when they take on Cape Verde on Saturday evening in Yamoussokro.
