AFCON 2021 PREVIEW: Morocco vs Ghana - Sports Blog by Bettitude

Written By Jacobs Dunga

Morocco come into this tournament as one of the strongest favourites having not lost a game in regulation time since 2019. Vahid Halihodzic’s men came through the qualifiers unbeaten scoring ten goals in six games and conceding just once. So good are they that the absence of Hakim Ziyech who was left out for disciplinary reasons is hardly felt whenever they line out without the Chelsea player. This tournament will however provide a real test for the Atlas Lions as most of their games during qualifiers were played at home, it is expected that they make the most of this present squad of players.

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Four time champions Ghana will come into this tournament hoping to revive their old fortunes. The Black Stars last won the tournament far back in 1982 with several attempts to add to that ending in futility. Ghana are leading a whole new generation of players as they have as much as five debutants in their squad heading into the competition. Milovan Rajevac will hope to pick inspiration from the sides that consistently reached the semi finals from 2008 till 2017 and would be willing to go one better than when he himself led them to a second place finish in 2010, a year they also got to the quarter finals of the World Cup where they lost on shootouts to Uruguay.

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Head coach Halihodzic left behind Chelsea attacker Hakim Ziyech from his final 28 man squad.

Ghana are without experienced striker Asamoah Gyan who was left out due to lack of playing time.

Ajax defender Noussair Mazraoui misses out for Morocco through injury.

David Abagna and Maxwell Abbey both home based made the Ghana squad as first timers.

STYLE

The Moroccans have adopted an all attacking style of play under their Bosnian coach. The Atlas Lions are a well equipped side in all departments with heavy reliance on their forward players. Their wingers are capable of causing menace to the opposition as they’re constantly fed with passes high up the pitch in order to keep the game in the half of the opposition.

Ghana play a more pragmatic and conservative style of football, the Black Stars allow their opponents a large share of possession with their wingers positioned to break on counters at every opportunity. Their greatest strength lies in their ability to make the most of every little opportunity.

FORM

Morocco went through the qualifiers unbeaten winning four games and drawing the other two. They scored ten and conceded one in those six games. The Atlas Lions lost to rivals Algeria in the quarter finals of the Arab Cup but have not lost in regulation time since 2019.

Ghana also had an impressive campaign in the qualifying series winning four and losing one with the other ending in draw. The Black Stars however could count themselves lucky as a debatable penalty was what helped them progress past South Africa in the World Cup qualifiers where they’ll play a two legged tie against one of other nine qualified teams for a place in Qatar later this year.

HEAD TO HEAD

The two sides have previously met eleven times in all competitions with Morocco edging the Black Stars.

Morocco’s five wins to Ghana’s three puts them on the edge with three of the games ending in draws.

In four meetings at the AFCON, the Atlas Lions have two wins with the Black Stars winning one and the other ending in a draw.

The two sides met in a friendly game last year with Vahid Halihodzic’s men coming out victorious 1-0.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Sofiane Boufal will be heavily relied upon by Morocco to create the needed spark upfront as he has done in the French Ligue 1 for Angers.

Crystal Palace’s Jordan Ayew will be the leader of the Black Star’s attack.

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Achraf Hakimi has been one of the most consistent fullbacks in the world and should bring his buzzing pace to effect in Cameroon.

Andre Ayew who is Ghana’s all time top scorer at the AFCON will be primed to adding to his tally in their edition.

VERDICT

Morocco has been the most inform team in Africa and should comfortably dispatch the inconsistent Ghanaians.

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About Author

Oluwaseun Oyediji

I am a huge advocate of Women’s football after covering the Nigeria Women Football Leagues (NWFL) since 2019. An unbiased football writer with penchant for women’s in sports and historical analysis.

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