Morocco’s 1-0 win over Zambia in Group F on Wednesday ensured Ivory Coast finished as the fourth-best third-place team, thus just qualifying for the knockout stage.
Host nation Ivory Coast squeezed into the last 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations on the day it fired its trainer.
Morocco’s 1- 0 palm over Zambia in Group F on Wednesday assured Ivory Coast finished as the fourth-stylish third- place platoon, therefore just qualifying for the knockout stage.
Zambia’s defeat left the Bobby pellets with two points after three games, one smaller than Ivory Coast, which failed to secure its own progress when it was beaten 4- 0 by Equatorial Guinea in its final group game on Monday.
Morocco’s palm set off uncontrolled fests in Abidjan, the largest megacity in Ivory Coast, where there were fireworks, sympathizers cheering in the thoroughfares and suckers driving around honking their auto cornucopias. The Alassane Ouattara ground linking the sections of Plateau and Cocody was illuminated in red and green, the colors of the Moroccan flag.
Morocco captain Hakim Ziyech came a original idol when he scored the only thing across four games Wednesday, firing in the answer after Lawrence Mulenga saved Ayoub El Kaabi’s trouble in the 37th.
The thing was incontinently celebrated by the Ivorian suckers in attendance in San Pedro, and those who heard about it at the other match between Tanzania and Congo in Korhogo. That game ended 0- 0.
Ziyech and his teammates ran to celebrate on the sideline, where he made a heart sign for trainer Walid Regragui, watching from the daises as he was serving a suspense assessed by the Confederation of African Football before Wednesday.
But Ivory Coast suckers had to endure a nervy homestretch. Lameck Banda went just wide as Zambia started its stylish period of pressure around the hour- mark. Lubambo Musonda fired over for the Bobby pellets, who pushed hard for an equalizer that would have meant the hosts ’ elimination.
Morocco also missed late chances to seal it with Mulenga pulling off two saves in cessation time to keep the suspension to the end.
Ivory Coast fired trainer Jean- Louis Gasset before Wednesday.
Morocco finished top of Group F with seven points, four further than Congo, which also reached the last 16. Zambia and Tasmania, with two points each, were excluded.
Mali, South Africa and Namibia all advanced to the last 16 on Wednesday when they took part in the event’s first goalless games.
Mali’s 0- 0 draw with Namibia was enough to eclipse Group E, while South Africa settled alternate place on thing difference from Namibia by drawing 0- 0 with Tunisia.
Mali finished with five points, one further than South Africa and Namibia, while Tunisia was excluded after finishing bottom of the group.
Namibia progressed as one of the four stylish third- place finishers, which was bad news for Ivory Coast at the time. The mammoths also demanded a Morocco palm. Know More Latest Football News…
