The Atlas Lions of Morocco opened their TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations 2021 campaign with a 1-0 victory over the Black Stars of Ghana in a Group C match at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium, Yaounde. 

Sofiane Boufal scored the all important goal late in the game after 82 minutes played Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium.

The Black Stars’ defense went to sleep and failed to clear their lines to give Boufal time to slot the ball past Ghana’s goalkeeper Joseph Luke Wollacot.

The game started with the two teams matching each other well, but Morocco’s veteran captain Ghanem Saiss had the first good chance when he headed the ball off target after 7 minutes. Zakaria Aboukhlal later had his long shot saved by the Black Stars goalkeeper after 14 minutes.

Ghana’s defending line marshaled by Alexander Djiru and Andrew Kyere-Yiadom remained tight, closing out the Moroccans. Ghana also had Thomas Teye Partey fire his free kick off target after 33 minutes.

Towards the interval Morocco failed to make use of a freekick taken from close range after Partey had pulled down Sofiane Boufal. But it was Joseph Paintsil’s last effort in the first half when he ran past two Moroccan defenders, but shot wide off target.

After recess the two teams stepped up in attack, but Ghana’s skipper Andre Ayew came close after 65 minutes but missed the target. The Black Stars again came close when Morocco’s goalkeeper punched for a corner a well taken Joseph Paintsil shot after 72 minutes.

But it was the more organized Morocco team that took advantage in the 83rd minute and netted the lone goal.

The Atlas Lions continued to push forward and had another chance after 87 minutes, but they failed to connect from a well taken free kick.

Morocco who reached the group of 16 in the AFCON 2019 now top Group C before Comoros later face Gabon.