CHAN 2016: Group A
Morocco 0-1 Cote D’Ivoire
Striker Yannick Krahire Zakri’s well converted penalty at the stroke of half time propelled Cote D’Ivoire to their first victory of the CHAN 2016 campaign over a hard fighting Moroccan at the Amahoro national stadium on Wednesday.
The Asec Mimosa forward sent goalkeeper Mohammed Amine Bourkadi the wrong way from 12 yards after Abderrahim Achchakir had brought down the enterprising Association Sportive Tanda winger, Atcho Hemann Junior Djobo in the forbidden area.
The match referee, Malang Diedhiou from Senegal did not only point to the spot, but also cautioned the offending defender, Bourkadi.
Earlier in the half, it was all Morocco affair with Mourad Batna and Abdessamad El Mobaraky testing Badri Ali Sangare on several times.
El Mobaraky had a cheeky back heel saved by goalie Badre.
The second half belonged to Morocco with the West Africans sitting back for the counter through the pacy Djobo.
Morocco called for the first change of the game when Mohammed Ounnajem came on for the industrious Abdessamad El Mobaraky. Later, Abdelilah Hafidi paved way for Abdeladim Khadrouf.
The Ivorians had Nilmar Treika Mondesir Ble replace Yace Krahire Marius Gregoire Okpekon as the crowd darling Hemann Djobo came out for Soualiho Coulibaly.
Ivory Coast earns their victory of the campaign having lost 1-0 in the opener. Ivorian skipper, Yao Serge N’ guessan was voted man of the match. The next games of the group will take place on Sunday.
Rwanda, who have already qualified play Morocco and Ivory Coast takes on Gabon in a typical West African affair.
Line Ups:
Morocco XI: Mohammed Amine Bourkadi (G.K), Jawad El Yamiq, Abderrahim Achchakir, Brahim Nakach, Abdessamad El Mobaraky, Abdeladim Khadrouf, Anass Lamrabat, Mohamed Oulhaj, Mourad Batna, Ahmed Jahouh, Issam Erraki
Subs: El Mehdi El Bassil, Mohamed Abarhoun, Mohammed Ounnajem, Zakaria Hadraf, Abdessalam Benjelloun, Abdelaali Mhamdi, Abdelghani Mouaoui, Mohamed Aziz, Marwane Saadane, Abdelilah Hafidi, Adil Karrouchy, Abderrahaman El Houasli
Cote D’Ivoire XI: Badri Ali Sangare (G.K), Marcelin Koffi, Mahan Marc Goua, Essis Baudelaire Fulgence Aka, Soualio Dabila Ouattara, Atcho Hemann Junior Djobo, Yace Krahire Marius Gregoire Okpekon, Yao Serge N’ guessan (C), Djedje Guiza, Cheick Ibrahim Comara
Subs: Drissa Bamba (G.K), Dagou Willie Anderson Britto, Gbagnon Badie, Adama Kangoute, Koffi Davy Mahinde Boua, Diallo Kouame Romuald Cedric Kouassi, Dominique Anderson Mevy, Wassawaly Eric Michel Toh, Nilmar Treika Mondesir Ble, Inza Diabate, Soualiho Coulibaly, Abdoul Cisse Match Officials: Center
