South Africa‘s national football team, Bafana Bafana, celebration style left fans and pundits reminiscing about the 2022 World Cup after sending Morocco packing with a 2-0 victory.
Players re-enacted Cristiano Ronaldo’s iconic celebration style after defeating the 2022 semi-final World Cup qualifiers to send them out of AFCON in the Round of 16.
The win against Morocco propelled South Africa into the quarterfinals of AFCON sparking memories of their remarkable journey in the 2022 World Cup.
Teboho Mokoena led his team emulating Cristiano Ronaldo’s iconic celebration, adding a touch of glamour to the moment.
Portuguese superstar’s ‘Siu’ celebration involved leaping into the air and spinning around, a move that has become synonymous with his goal-scoring exploits.
Also Read: Where Are They Now? 10 Last AFCON Golden Boot Winners
Morocco Eliminating Portugal in World Cup 2022
Morocco ranked 13th in the world became the first African team to compete in the FIFA World Cup semi-finals after a courageous, backs-to-the-wall 1-0 victory over Portugal at Al Thumama Stadium.
Nonetheless, Portugal had their moments either side of half-time, with Bruno Fernades rattling the bar, Yassine Bounou producing some superb saves to end Joao Felix and Cristiano Ronaldo journey in the 2022 World Cup.
A sobbing Cristiano Ronaldo exited his final World Cup heartbroken after Morocco sprung a quarter final surprise.
The Portuguese No.7 was seen bursting in tears at the final whistle and quickly headed for the tunnel at the Stadium.
Subsequently, out on the pitch, Morocco was celebrating history, becoming the first African team to reach World Cup Semi-finals.
Also Read: Full List of Teams Knocked Out of AFCON Campaign
South Africa Celebration
Fresh from their impressive run in the 2022 FIFA World Cup and subsequent strong showings in 2023, the Atlas Lions were considered favorites for the AFCON championship.
However, their dreams were shattered in the Round of 16 clash against South Africa.
Bafana Bafana, known for their resilience, shocked the football world by taking the lead in the second half with a goal from Evidence Makgopa.
The Moroccans, unable to recover from the unexpected setback, faced further adversity when PSG star Achraf Hakimi missed a late penalty, hitting the woodwork.
Seizing the opportunity, South Africa capitalized on their numerical advantage. Teboho Mokoena, a key figure in the team, stepped up to take a direct free-kick and secured the victory with a stunning goal.
Just like they did against Morocco, Bafana Bafana had defied expectations in the World Cup, reaching the semifinals before bowing out.
South Africa’s victory takes them to the quarter finals and on Saturday they will face Cape Verde in Yamoussoukro.
