Morocco – Ghana. Thanks to a clear strike from Boufal in the area, the Atlas Lions clinched victory after a very tense match, where opportunities were rare (1-0).
19:20 – Thank you
Thank you to everyone for following us during this first Group C match which saw Morocco dominate Ghana (1-0).
7:15 p.m. – Head for the Comoros and Gabon
After this inaugural victory, Morocco will play its second game in four days against The Comoros. For its part, Ghana will try to revive against Gabon.
19:10 – And suddenly Boufal appears
It’s been a long time since the meeting had sunk into a false rhythm, bathed in a strange lethargy maintained by more than sparse stands. Morocco and Ghana struggled to be dangerous and only a flash seemed to be able to thwart the draw that was looming. Suddenly, on a rise of Hakimi on the right side, the ball was scrambled in the area and benefited Boufal who in a pivotal movement propelled a clear cross strike deceiving Wollacott. There was less than ten minutes left in the regulatory time and the Angers striker came to deliver his teammates and his country from an increasingly palpable tension. This goal opened an unbridled end of the match where Ghana threw, in vain, its last strength into the battle and which saw Morocco pass very close to increasing the score. On a free kick, Saïss missed the target at close range by unscrewing his head, then in added time, it was Tissoudali’s turn, in the same position as Boufal, to pass very close, seeing Wollacott pushing back a shot on his line. powerful in closed angle.
If the goal cleared everything, the turning point of the match came on the edge of the last quarter of an hour. On a ball badly returned by his defense, Bounou made a sumptuous parade by fetching a curled shot from Paintsil who took the direction of the skylight. Ghana had missed its chance. Because this meeting was long padlocked by two selections well placed defensively and which left no space for the opponent to develop his game. In addition to Bounou who will have released the stop at the opportune moment, the axis formed by Aguerd and Saïss will have displayed a once again its complementarity and illustrated why the Moroccan defense is so difficult to maneuver and to penetrate. Failing to have shone offensively but with a solid base and a decisive Boufal, Vahid Hallilhodzic’s men provided the essentials and showed character to dispose of Ghana. For its part, the Black Stars are called upon to react and show more to imagine a future in the competition.
19:01 – Hallilhodzic is “proud”
“The guys had a heroic game. It was a complicated game because they were a very good Ghana team opposite. I’m proud of what my team showed.”, appreciated Vahid Hallilhodzic after the meeting.
18:59 – Boufal, man of the match
Author of the winning goal for Morocco and very valuable for his initiatives, Sofiane Boufal was named man of the match.
???? Sofiane Boufal with his TotalEnergies Man of the Match award !! Congrats ???? pic.twitter.com/2iNLQF3Upa
– Morocco team (@EnMaroc) January 10, 2022
18:56 – Boufal’s satisfaction
Author of the victorious goal of his team, Sofiane Boufal expressed his satisfaction at the end of this complicated first match. “We have a very good team. We aimed to start well and win this match. This is only the beginning, we are not going to relax. What we did today will not help us. for the rest “, explained the Moroccan.
18:50 – Morocco is doing it
At the end of a tense and poor match, Morocco won the victory thanks to a late inspiration from Boufal (1-0). Always so solid in defense, the men of Vahid Hallilhodzic ensure the essential and launch their CAN with a victory against a direct rival in this Group C.
FULL-TIME ⏰ #TeamMorocco 1️⃣-0️⃣ #TeamGhana
Morocco leave it late to seal the victory against Ghana, courtesy of a Sofiane Boufal strike! ???? # TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 | # AFCON2021 | #MARGHA pic.twitter.com/S974EMObFC
– # TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 ???? (@CAF_Online) January 10, 2022
18:49 – Wollacott avoids the goal
Ghana is close to breaking up. In the area, Tissoudali deposits his defender on a double contact and continues with a heavy and crossed strike of the right. The shot is powerful and allows to highlight Wollacott author of a superb save on his line.
18:49 – Leaving Partey
At the start of additional time, Thomas Partey gives way to Boakye.
18:44 – Saïss misses the break
On an eccentric free kick, Morocco is very close to making a success of the break. At six meters, three Moroccans are present and it is Saïss who takes the ball with his head but unscrews his head which passes to the left of the goal. There are three minutes left in regulation time.
18:38 – Boufal liberates Morocco
Goal for Morocco! After a good pass from Hakimi in the box, Aboukhlal manages to turn around but sees Partey taking the ball away from him. The latter rolls towards 6 meters where Boufal drags and with a pivot crosses a perfect strike to deceive the vigilance of Wollacott (1-0, 82nd).
18:35 – First change
Taking advantage of the stoppage of play following André Ayew’s head injury, Vahid Halilhodzic made his first change a quarter of an hour from the end of the match. Louza, uninspired and very discreet in the game, is replaced by Tissoudali.
18:35 – Ayew groomed
On a free kick from the right side, Ayew tries to get the ball back at the far post but is too short. On the other hand, his head hits that of Saïss. The former Marseillais remains on the ground and the game is stopped to treat him.
18:31 – Boufal misses his lob
On a ball recovered in the central circle, Boufal looks up and tries to surprise Wollacott, advanced in his area. The Moroccan’s lob is completely missed and goes very far to the left of the goal.
18:30 – The superb stop at Bounou
This is the first real opportunity of the match. On a poorly cleared ball from Aguerd, Paintsil, heading the area, controls and opens his right foot. His ball is perfectly wrapped and requires Bounou to demonstrate all his qualities. The Moroccan goalkeeper relaxes and leaves with a firm hand the Ghanaian attempt (0-0, 72nd).