AFCON2021 : Morocco edge past Ghana,Mané nets late penalty to seal Senegal win vs Zimbabwe
Morocco got their African Cup of Nations 2021 campaign off to a perfect start, after they eked a late goal against the Black Stars of Ghana in their opening Group C match at the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations 2021.
Sofiane Boufal’s strike in the 82nd-minute earned the The Atlas Lions a 1-0 win against Ghana at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium.
The former Southampton winger pounced on to a loose ball after a mix-up in the Black Stars’ defending line,hammering his effort into the far corner past goalkeeper Joseph Luke Wollacot.
The two teams exhibited their prowess at the blast of the whistle ending the first half goalless, but Morocco showed they were no easy push-overs as Boufal left it late to seal win for the Lions.
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 need to bounce back from their opening game setback when they take on Gabon on Friday.
Gabon overcome Comoros
A lone goal by Aaron Salem Boupendza was enough to help Gabon defeat Comoros in the second Group C match of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations 2021 played on Monday evening.
Gabon who played the match without their usual star skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang made their intentions known from the start of the match at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde, Cameroon.
Mane’s last minute gasp sinks Zimbabwe
In Group B, Senegal’s Sadio Mané converted a penalty seven minutes into stoppage time to hand the pre‑tournament favourites a 1-0 victory over Zimbabwe at the start of their Africa Cup of Nations campaign in Bafoussam.
The Zimbabwe defender Kelvin Madzongwe was penalised for blocking a shot with his hand extended away from his body in a heartbreaking turn of events for his side as they were on the cusp of an upset at the start of the Group B action.
And in other Group B game, Guinea edged Malawi 1-0 thanks to Issiaga Sylla’s first half goal.
GROUP STANDINGS
