Bafana Bafana finished in third place in Afcon's Group D after their 1-0 loss to Morocco in Cairo on Monday evening.
The defeat means South Africa need to wait for results in Tuesday’s Group E and F encounters to see if they make the last 16 by virtue of the best third-placed teams.
And if they make it to the next round, they will have to pick up their socks as once again Bafana struggled to be effective in turning defence into attack.
A more attack-minded midfield of Themba Zwane, Bongani Zungu and Kamohelo Mokotjo couldn’t find strikers Thulani Serero, Percy Tau and Lebo Mothiba.
Bafana only looked good when they pressed Moroccans high up the pitch and that’s how Tau got off South Africa’s shot at goal in the first half.
The Atlas Lions were comfortable in defence and managed two shots in anger at Ronwen Williams’ goal, but Younes Belhanda fired his first over the bar before hitting his second straight at the keeper.
After the break, the game opened up more and after a bright start by coach Stuart Baxter’s manne, rightback Thami Mkhize also took a strike into the side netting.
But the Moroccans were more efficient as Borussia Dortmund fullback Achraf Hakimi struck the crossbar in the 63rd minute, with striker Youssef En-Nesyri failing to find the target after rounding Williams.
By this time, the north African’s looked like the only side capable of scoring as Hakim Ziyech, Nordin Amrabat and En-Nesyri threatened.
Captain Mbark Boussoufa then fired in the winner after a goalmouth scramble in the dying minutes of the game.