In Group C, things started to get serious straight away for Morocco and Ghana, who faced each other in a top shock between two contenders for the CAN title.
It is a clash between two major nations of the African continent. On the one hand, Morocco, which is home to the most African championship, on the other, Ghana, four-time CAN winner in search of its former glory. The competition starts strong in Group C and yet these are two teams with very different dynamics with different expectations.
Indeed, weaned from victory in the event since its only coronation in 1976, Morocco tackles this 33e edition with great ambition. “There is a great desire in the players of the national team to go as far as possible during this CAN”, said Vahid Halilhodzic. The former Nantes and Parisian will rely on a solid group led by the Parisian Hakimi and a legion of players from Ligue 1 (Louza, Boufal, Alakouch, Aguerd and Ounahi), as well as sure values like El-Nesyri. A group that has proven itself. In 2021, Vahid Halilhodzic’s men showed their collective strength by winning their 6 qualifying matches at the 2022 World Cup, finishing better in defense with only one goal conceded. Results obtained without the references Ziyech (Chelsea) or Mazraoui (Ajax Amsterdam), dismissed by the coach because of a mismatch with the project set up. “We worked well for two years, and I won’t allow anyone to spoil it all”, he slices. Halilhodzic is convinced that his team has everything it takes to win, provided they continue with the same seriousness. “We have to prepare well to face the three teams in the group: Ghana, Gabon and Comoros. Although Morocco are favorites to reach the second round, you have to prepare well and play with a lot of ambition and determination. to go as far as possible “, he explains.
Ghana between two waters
Opposite, Ghana is going through a chaotic period and displays less certainties. Last October, Milovan Rajevac was recalled to the Ghanaian bench to replace Charles Okonnor, the day after a defeat against South Africa in the qualifying for the 2022 World Cup. The Serb had already known the selection between 2008 and 2010, reaching the CAN final and the World Cup quarter-finals. Ghana has since moved under the radar in pursuit of its glorious past. Rajevac’s return is part of this dynamic, that of relaunching a nation in search of identity and results. A mission hardly obvious for the Serbian who must succeed in marrying the generations. Because if that of André Ayew is aging and no longer constitutes the future, that led by Thomas Partey, irremovable in the midfield of the Black Stars, has not been able to rise to the level. “It’s not easy to compare, the last generation has certainly been very strong and successful, but in this new generation I can see a lot of talent, a lot of fine talent for the future, so Ghanaians shouldn’t worrying about the future of Ghanaian football “, believes the Balkans coach. Indeed, a new generation seems to emerge with in particular Sulemana, well known to the followers of Ligue 1 for his performances with Rennes, Kudu who plays at Ajax Amsterdam, or even the very young Fatawu Issahaku, named best player of the CAN U20. , won by Ghanaian youth. If the mayonnaise took, Ghana would then take on the appearance of a credible spoiler. It remains to translate the promises on the ground. Five days after the slap received in preparation against Algeria (0-3), it is a question of getting back to the place facing Morocco.
The Group C meeting between Morocco and Ghana will start at 5 p.m. and will take place in Ahmadou-Ahidjo from Yaoundé, the capital of Cameroon.
The match between Morocco and Ghana will be broadcast live and in full on beIN Sports 1. As a reminder, the beIN Sports group is the official broadcaster of the CAN and will broadcast all the matches of the competition on its antennas.
It will be possible to follow the shock between Morocco and Ghana on the MyCanal online platform, from 5 p.m.
BetClic: Morocco: 2.25 / Draw: 2.90 / Ghana: 3.55
Bwin: Morocco: 2.05 / Draw: 2.60 / Ghana: 3.00
Winamax: Morocco: 2.25 / Draw: 2.90 / Ghana: 3.50
The probable composition of Morocco: Bounou – Hakimi, Aguerd, Saiss, Masina – Amrabat, Ounahi, Louza – Boufal, Tissoudali, Munir.
The probable composition of Ghana: Nurudeen – Djiku, Amartey, J. Mensah – Issahuku, Partey, Addo, G. Mensah – Owusu, Boakye, Paintsil.