SAFA announce venue for Bafana Bafana vs Morocco tie

SAFA have announced the venue for the 2023 AFCON qualifier between Bafana Bafana and Morocco.

It will be the last group stage match for Hugo Broos’ men. They have already secured a place in the AFCON that will take place in Ivory Coast next year.

The Atlas Lions, who were the first to qualify for the competition in Group K, still have to play Liberia. They will face the West Africans on 4 September 2023.

The FIFA World Cup 2010 final venue, FNB Stadium, will host the tie. The 2022 FIFA World Cup semi-finalists and 1996 AFCON champions would be eager to win the tie.

SAFA ANNOUNCE VENUE FOR BAFANA BAFANA VS MOROCCO MATCH

“Bafana Bafana’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against FIFA World Cup semi-finalists Morocco will go ahead at FNB Stadium as scheduled next month after the South African Football Association (SAFA) and Stadium Management held a successful meeting on Tuesday (23 May 2023),” SAFA announced on Tuesday.

Last week, SA football’s mother body was reportedly told by Stadium Management SA [SMSA] to pay the money it owed to the company or to look for another venue to host the North Africans.

However, the two parties have resolved their issues, and the match will continue to take place at the FNB Stadium.

“SAFA CEO Lydia Monyepao and CFO Gronie Hluyo met Stadium Management CEO Bertie Grobbelaar on Tuesday to address several issues related to the hosting of the game on 17 June 2023 at the 2010 FIFA World Cup final venue. The two parties resolved all the issues on the table, including an amount that was owed from a previous match played at the stadium. 

“Grobbelaar confirmed that the matter has been resolved and the game will be played at FNB Stadium,” added the statement.

SAMSA GIVE A GO-AHEAD

“All financial matters between SAFA and Stadium Management have been resolved. The 2023 AFCON qualifier between Bafana and Morocco will go ahead at FNB Stadium. It takes place on 17 June 2023 as scheduled,” said Grobbelaar.

“This was an incredibly cordial engagement between two long-time partners. I’m happy that our meeting was conducted in such a warm spirit. We are happy that all the issues have been resolved,” said the SAFA CEO.

The match will take place on 17 June at 6 pm.

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