Ghana 0-1 Morocco: Boufal’s Strike Enough To Seal Victory For The Atlas Lions

The Black Stars of Ghana had all their work undone by an 83rd minute Soufiane Boufal strike, in group C of the TotalEnergies AFCON 2021.

The Black Stars had done enough for a point, if not three, but the Atlas Lions came out on top.

Milo Rajevac and his team bowed to defeat in the much anticipated game against Morocco, at the Stade Omnisports Stadium.

Ghana started the game out of the blocks with lots of pressing, keeping the Atlas Lions in her camp for the first few minutes.

Despite Ghana’s impressive spell earlier on, it was Morocco that had the first shot on target. It was Zakaria Aboukhlal who benefitted from a lose pass, to fire straight at goalkeeper Josph Wallacot.

The two teams tied at parity as the game approached the half hour mark.

Jordan Ayew, in an attempt to twist pass Moroccan slipper, Ghanem Saiss, was pulled down. The resulting free kick was spurned wide off target by Thomas Partey.

Ghana had a late penalty call with one minute of added time, as Andre went down after what the referee adjudged to have been a light contact from Selim Amallah. That was pretty much the last action in the first half.

Youngster Kamal Sulemana was trying so hard, at every attempt to attack the Moroccan defense – anytime a chance for a counter broke. He was however, on most occasions isolated, with strike partners – Andre and Jordan, playing deep in their own half.

A minute to the hour, a lose ball fell kindly for Kamal Sulemana, whose perfectly hit volley got deflected off target, much to the relief of goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.

These two are expected to go through in group C, despite it being early days.

Next up in group C is Comoros Island against Gabon.

Starting XI Ghana

Jordan, Andre, Sulemana, Paintsil, Partey, Baba, Iddrisu, Djiku, Yiadom, Amartey, Wollacott

Substitutes Ghana: Issahaku, Tetteh, Kyereh, Boakye,

Starting XI Morocco

Bonou, Hakimi, Masina, Nayef, Saiss, Louza, Ounahi, Zakaria, Selim, Boufal, Mmaee

Substitutes Morocco: Amrabat, Rahimi, Tissoudali