Bafana Bafana v Morocco: By the numbers...

Bafana Bafana are gearing up to meet Morocco in a highly anticipated Africa Cup of Nations last-16 clash scheduled for Tuesday at the Laurent Pokou Stadium in San Pedro.

Kick-off is at 22:00 (SA time).

The upcoming encounter between Bafana and the Atlas Lions will mark their 10th overall meeting and their sixth clash in the continental showpiece.

READ | Bafana Bafana v Morocco: Two of Afcon's biggest underachievers go face-to-face

In a football tale woven with passion and drama, Bafana first crossed paths with Morocco in the enchanting setting of Afcon's quarter-final in Burkina Faso back in February 1998.

A young Benni McCarthy ignited the scoreboard with a brilliant strike 21 minutes into the contest, answered by a spirited response from Saud Chiba for the North Africans just 14 minutes later.

22 Feb 1998: South Africa 2-1 Morocco - Afcon quarter-final

30 Jan 2002: Morocco 1-3 South Africa - Afcon Group B

19 Sep 2002: Morocco 0-0 South Africa - International Friendly

04 Feb 2004: Morocco 1-1 South Africa - Afcon Group D

27 Jan 2013: Morocco 2-2 South Africa - Afcon Group A

11 Oct 2013: Morocco 1-1 South Africa - International Friendly

01 Jul 2019: South Africa 0-1 Morocco - Afcon Group D

09 Jun 2022: Morocco 2-1 South Africa - Afcon qualifier

17 Jun 2023 South Africa 2-1 Morocco - Afcon qualifier

Yet, it was David Nyathi who etched South Africa's name in victory, delivering a decisive goal. 

Four years later, the two nations would meet again in Mali at the 2002 edition. 

Sibusiso Zuma seized the spotlight by opening the scoring just three minutes before half-time. In the second act, Thabi Mngomeni and Siyabonga Nomvethe added their chapters to the narrative with second-half goals.

Despite Morocco's late attempt at a comeback, through