Rain falls as stadium fills in Durban
Rain and a fast-filling Moses Mabhida Stadium greeted the Bafana Bafana players as they took to the field for their warm-up routine ahead of the much-anticipated Africa Cup of Nations encounter against Morocco in Durban on Sunday.
Half an hour before the start, the heavy cloud cover that was building all afternoon eventually turned to rain, although that did little to dampen the spirits of the home fans, who were quickly taking their seats ahead of the Group A clash.
Earlier, South African flags, green and gold t-shirts and painted faces, all among proudly attired South African supporters, were edging closer towards the 56 000 seater venue.
The hosts needed only a draw, and a single point, to seal their place in the quarterfinals of the continental spectacle.
Buoyed by the performance of Gordon Igesund's men in their last match on Wednesday – a 2-0 victory over Angola – the nation was looking forward to another strong performance by Bafana Bafana.
The players were greeted by a massive roar of approval as they took to the field for their final stretches in a lively atmosphere.
Coach Gordon Igesund named an unchanged line-up for the match, with forward Tokelo Rantie recovering in time from a twisted ankle.
