1 min: We’re under way!
Anthems done, both teams are having a little pre-match huddle, and we’ll soon by under way.
The players are out, and the national anthems are being played. South Africa’s anthem starts superbly, I think, but then meanders along disappointingly before eventually giving up.
The sun is shining over Cairo, and the stands of the al-Salam stadium are very slightly more populated than they would be on a day when there isn’t a match on. Still, there’s plenty of time before kick-off.
The players have arrived, and seem in good voice:
The teams are in, and here they jolly well are:
South Africa: Williams, Mkhize, Hlanti, Mkhwanazi, Hlatshwayo, Mokotjo, Zwane, Zungu, Serero, Mothiba, Tau.
Morocco: Munir, Mazraoui, Da Costa, Saiss, Hakimi, El Ahmadi, Boussoufa, Ziyech, Belhanda, Amrabat, En Nesyri.
For Group D and at least one of the teams in it, the end is nigh. So far, every single game in the group has ended 1-0, the upshot being that Morocco are safely through with six points, while Ivory Coast and South Africa are tied on three points apiece with identical records but for the fact that Ivory Coast won the game between them. Namibia, with no points, require a healthy and apparently unlikely victory over Ivory Coast if they are to progress, but for the rest it’s game very much on.
Hervé Renard, Morocco’s French coach, revealed before the game that he has previously been approached by South Africa, but failed to reach an agreement with them because “of course I am not cheap”. Stuart Baxter currently has the job, which may or may mean that he is cheap. “South Africa have a lot of very good players,” Renard added. “They also have a good coach so it will be a tough game.” Based on South Africa’s performances against Ivory Coast and Namibia, this is a very generous assessment.
Important information department: Renard is French for fox. Baxter meanwhile, to quote Wikipedia, is “originally from the English occupational surname meaning ‘baker’, from the early Middle English bakstere and the Old English bæcere. The form Bakster was originally feminine, with Baker as the masculine equivalent.” The fact that baxter is to baker as bride is to groom is the most interesting thing I have learned today.
So, that’s the scene set. How’s things?