Morocco 1-0 Ivory Coast
Any clash between the Atlas Lions and Les Elephants has to be worth watching, right?
Certainly, millions of fans had eagerly anticipated this Africa Cup of Nations meeting at the Al Salam Stadium in Egypt.
With both sides knowing a win would see them advance to the knockout stages, surely we were set for some Africa Cup of Nations highlights?
Highlights of the game
This wasn’t just anticipated though because of the prize up for grabs, or because there was little choose between them in the Sbobet Africa Cup of Nations betting odds.
This was anticipated because of the pedigree of the nations, both tipped to do well and possibly go onto win this tournament, and because of some of the stars on show.
Players such as Ajax winger Hakim Ziyech, 19 goals and 16 assists for his club last season and a genuine talent.
Players such as Lille’s winger Nicolas Pepe – supposedly on Bayern Munich’s radar after scoring 23 goals in Ligue 1 last season – who proved his worth in the Ivorians’ opening success against South Africa earlier this week.
Players such as Wilfried Zaha, reportedly wanted by many a big club, and surprisingly left on the bench for the second time this week and not called upon at all this evening.
He would have watched on with frustration as his side was pegged back after an encouraging start.
Only two minutes were on the clock when Serge Aurier roared down the right and flashed the ball towards Jonathan Kodjia whose downward header was destined for the net until a last-gasp clearance from Romain Saiss.
In fact, it was an all-English Premier League move with Spurs setting up Aston Villa and denied by Wolves!
Full of attacking intent, Morocco eased their way into the match and, moments after hitting the side netting, grabbed the all-important goal in the 23rd minute.
Nordin Amrabat was the creator supreme with a superb piece of skill which bewitched his opponents and found Youssef En-Nesyri whose finish was clinical.
There was almost an immediate equaliser as goalkeeper Yassine Bono raced to dispossess Max Gradel but could only parry the ball to Pepe who impressively turned past two defenders and fired within an inch of the goal.
The pace was intense and Morocco nearly had a second before the break when Sylvain Gbohouo saved from the goalscorer after a quite brilliant counter-attack involving Borussia Dortmund talent Achraf Hakimi and Amrabat, later named man of the match.
The pace continued after the break, even if clear cut chances were few, but the loss of Aurier to injury midway through the second half was a clear blow to the Ivory Coast.
Gbohouo saved again from En-Nesyri, the marksmen always a threat and the man who looked most like scoring.
With the Ivorians pushing for an equaliser, only the woodwork denied Morocco a second goal in stoppage time.
Hakimi slipped the ball to Mbark Boussoufa whose cross was splendidly volleyed by substitute Noussair Mazraoui only to come back off the woodwork.
He probably should have scored but it didn’t matter.
As the full-time whistle blew, there was certainly no denying Morocco had deserved their victory against opponents who were largely second best and only shone in small bursts – another landmark too for their accomplished head coach Herve Renard as he faced his former side for the first time since November 2017.
The French tactician, who guided the Elephants to the 2015 Afcon title and masterminded a 2-0 victory in favour of the Atlas Lions in a crucial 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifier, would just love another tournament success.
Key statistics
This was Renard’s third success against Ivorian tactician and his former sidekick, Ibrahim Kamara.
This was the second time in succession Ivory Coast have been defeated by Morocco in this competition. The Ivory Coast have not defeated Morocco in a competitive encounter since 2006.
Morocco have kept a clean sheet in all of their last four fixtures against the Ivorians.
Each of the last five matches between the two nations has seen two goals or less.
Although Morocco have qualified, they could still be caught by both Ivory Coast and South Africa – however, they are already assured of progressing as will at the very least be one of the four best third-placed teams.
What’s next?
Morocco now meet South Africa in their final group match on Monday (July 1), also in this stadium.
For the Ivory Coast, it’s Namibia in the aptly named June 30 Stadium (just a day before the actual match takes place!).
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