AFCON 2021: Morocco’s Sofiane Boufal sinks Ghana with late strike

Ghana Black Stars suffered a disappointing 1-0 defeat to the Atlas Lions of Morocco in their Group C opening match of the 2021 AFCON at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium on Monday evening.

Forward Soufine Boufal’s 83rd minute strike was enough to seal victory for the North African giants.

Ghana started brightly and enjoyed the best of possession in the early minutes,  but it was the Moroccans who settled calmly settled and took the game to Ghana.

Goalkeeper Joejoe Wallacot saved Morocco’s Zakaria Aboukhlal long drive in the 11th minute to keep the scores at bay.

After half an hour played, Ghana’s Thomas Partey came through with the first chance when he shot from a free-kick but missed narrowly in the 3nd minute.

With five minutes left on the clock, Morocco failed to make two decent chances count when Zakaria Aboukhlal and Soufine Boufal count blasted wide their efforts.

With confidence beaming on the side of Ghana, Joseph Painstil went pass his maker to hit one from close range in the 43rd minute.

A call for penalty in the additional was called off by centre man Joseph Bondo when skipper Andre Ayew was brought down in the penalty box and allowed play to continue.

The North African giants counted pressure on Ghana minutes after recess when Sofiane Boufal tested goalkeeper Wallacot with a long drive in the 50th minute.

Not the best of chances but the Black Stars through Joseph Paintsil nearly opened the score for Ghana with a decent drive outside the penalty box only for goalkeeper Yassine Bounou to deny Ghana the first goal with an outstanding save after 72 minutes.

Minutes on, Morroco brought on Tarik Tissoudali for Imran Louza to add more bit to the attack.

Deservedly, it paid off when in the 83rd minute when Soufine Boufal went pass two opponents to hit one inside the box leaving goalie Wallocot no chance to operate.

Bent on grabbing the equaliser, Daniel Kofi Kyere, Issahaku Fatawu, Bemjamin Tetteh and Kofi Kyere came on for Jordan Ayew, Sulemana Kamaldeen, Thomas Partey and Joseph Paintsil with four minutes left to play.

In the 90th minute, goalkeeper Joseph Wallacot saved a thunderbolt strike from Soufine Boufal to deny Morocco the second goal as they held on to their lone goal.