Morocco start with five star effort

Morocco get off to a winning start at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Lone fan
The match may have been Accra's best kept secret [Reuters]

“We relaxed a bit and Namibia took advantage to score their goal. But then our players reacted, and that is important.”

In only his third match, Namibia coach Arie Schans made a surprise tactical decision by selecting striker Lazarus Kaimbi at right back.

“I am very disappointed with the way we played in the first five minutes,” Schans said.

“At halftime, I told my players we behaved like school kids against professional players.

“At this international level, if you are 2-0 down after five minutes, the game is over.”

The Atlas Lions join Ghana at the top of Group A with three points, but
Morocco has a better goal difference after the Black Stars beat Guinea 2-1 on Sunday.

On Thursday, Morocco plays Guinea and Ghana faces Namibia.

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Morocco find the net again
[Reuters] 

Early goals

Morocco took the lead in just the second minute when striker Marouane Chamakh’s shot hit the post.

Chamakh passed the rebound to Alloudi, and he side-footed it into the net from six metres out.

Three minutes later, Alloudi controlled Youssef Hadji’s clever reverse pass and flicked the ball past goalkeeper Abisai Shanangayamwe with the outside of his right foot to score.

Brendell pulled a goal back with a low shot into the bottom right corner, but Alloudi completed his hat trick in the 28th when he headed in Hadji’s cross from the left to effectively end the match as a contest.

Hadji almost added another for Morocco, but Shanangayamwe saved with his legs.

Alloudi left the field on a stretcher in the 59th minute after being chopped down just outside the penalty area, and Shanangayamwe saved Youssef Mokhtari’s ensuing free kick.

Chamakh was twice lucky to escape a caution in the first half. First, when he tried a punch a high ball and then for a high tackle.

Source: News Agencies