Substitute Youssef El Arabi spared Morocco blushes with a late equaliser but it was still a night of triumph for minnows Cape Verde at the African Nations Cup in Durban on Wednesday.

Morocco rose from their slumber in the final 20 minutes to prove the capacity of their star-studded team, but to be held to a draw by Cape Verde is still akin to an embarrassing defeat.

Cape Verde pulled off their second surprising result of the African Cup of Nations and did hosts South Africa a big favour as they held Morocco to a 1-1 draw at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Wednesday.