There is Neymar in him. Soufiane Boufal scored the only saving goal to deliver his own after a long-locked match between the Atlas Lions in Ghana, this Monday, January 10, 2021 at the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium in Yaoundé, counting for the 1- 1st day of Group C of the African Cup of Nations (CAN), which is held in Cameroon.
From the outset, neither of the two selections wanted to take real risks and open spaces at the back, and the choc was very tactical throughout the first period. To lessen the weight of the injuries that hit the national team at the last minute, national coach Vahid Halilhodžić chose a widely revamped starting XI both in composition and in names, with a Sofyan Amrabet left on the bench and Samy Mmaee’s location as a defensive midfielder.
In attack, the national coach preferred the trio Ounahi, Aboukhlal, Boufal with a Hakimi who made several climbs to create numerical superiority. On the Ghanaian side, all the executives of the team were present, in particular the Ayew brothers, Thomas Partey temporized in midfield and the Rennais, Kamal Deen Sulemana twirled on the left side.
Before that period was over, one-on-one action from Selim Amallah, who remarkably knocked out a defender, was not sealed as it should, as the Moroccan’s shot was not placed where it should be.
The Lions and the Blacks Stars have also grabbed several set pieces, without actually materializing the slightest. During the second period, the Atlas Lions showed more initiative in trying to find spaces. But the Moroccan attack lacked elements capable of bringing this real danger and making the difference in the penalty area.
The first big chance of the game was obtained by Joseph Paintsil, who threw a very nice curling shot with the inside of the foot. But Yassine Bounou released a miraculous parade and the ball is returned to the corner (71st).
In the 83rd, following an action launched on the right side, Aboukhlal tries to dribble in the box, before the ball reaches the feet of Boufal who places a nice shot in the top corner.
“I spoke to Boufal, I told him that it is you who are going to deliver us” (Halilhodžić)
Before the match against Ghana, “I spoke to Soufiane Boufal, I told him that it is you who will deliver us”, affirmed Monday the national coach, Vahid Halilhodžić.
During the post-match press conference, the national coach stressed that “5 to 6 regular players were missing in this meeting”, adding that he tried to “empower his Neymar” and put forward all his talent to make a difference.
“I told myself that we will win (1-0) thanks to a set piece. This result is there but the way is different, ”he said, noting that it was a very good performance and that he is proud of his men.
On the site of Mmaee instead of Amrabet in midfield, Vahid Halilhodžić said that “it is a choice of performance, but also tactical as the Ghanaians are playing in front to look for the Ayew brothers”.
The national coach also said that Achraf Bencharki replaced Badr Banoune, who suffers from certain health problems without indicating the nature.
For his part, Milovan Rajevac, Ghana coach, congratulated the Moroccan team, as well as “his guys” for giving everything.
“We met one of the best teams on the Continent and we knew it was going to be difficult,” he said, adding that, from now on, “we will prepare for the second game”. Psychologically, a victory would have been better, but “we still have two games and we will do our best to qualify,” he concluded.
The technical sheet of the match
Here is the technical sheet of the match which pitted the Moroccan football selection against its Ghanaian counterpart (1-0) on Monday at the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium in Yaoundé on behalf of the 1st day of group C of the African Cup of Nations (CAN ):
Morocco-Ghana (1-0)
Buts:
Morocco: Sofiane Boufal (83rd)
Stade : Ahmadou Ahidjo
Lawn: in very good condition
Referee: Joshua Bondo (Botswana)
Warnings :
Morocco: Adam Masina (22nd),
Ghana : Alexander Djiku (17 e ), André Ayew (64 e )
The two selections:
Morocco : Yassine Bounou, Achraf Hakimi, Adam Masina, Nayef Aguerd, Ghanem Saiss, Imran Louza (Tarik Tissoudali, 78 e ), Azz-eddine Ounahi (Soufiane Amrabat, 90 e ), Zakaria Aboukhlal (Soufiane Rahimi, 90 e ), Selimallah , Sofiane Boufal, Samy Maee.
Trainer: Vahid Halilhodzic
Ghana : Joseph Luke Wollacot, Andrew Kyere-Yiadom, Thomas Teye Partey (Richmond Boakye, 90 e), Jordan Pierre Ayew (Daniel-Kofi Kyereh, 86e), Andre Morgan Rami, Paintsil Joseph (Abdou Ilfatou Ishakou), Abdul Rahman Baba, Daniel Amartey, Iddrisu Baba Mohammed, Kamal Deen Sulemana (Benjamin Tetteh, 86 e), Alaxander Djiku.
Contractor: Milovan Rajevac.