| CHAN 2014: Morocco, Zimbabwe Clinch Quarter Finals places with Last Group B wins 21/01/2014 12:25:00 | ||
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| Morocco’s Issam Erraki is fouled by Zimbabwe’s Ivan Ntege during the Group B matchMorocco as group leaders on goal difference, and Zimbabwe, Monday secured their passage into quarter-finals of the African Nations Championship when they won their final matches in Group B. Morocco beat Uganda 3-1 and Zimbabwe got the better of Burkina Faso with a 1-0 success.A late flurry of goals saw Morocco beat Uganda 3-1 at the Cape Town Stadium.Having seen their first half lead erased by Uganda early in the second half, Morocco gambled by throwing their three substitutes late in the second half and the gamble paid off when they scored two late goals to sink the opposition.End to end stuff characterised the beginning of this encounter as both teams searched for an early goal with Morocco forcing two corner kicks by the 4th minute but on both occasions did not trouble Ivan Ntege in goals for Ugandan Cranes.There was very little to separate the two teams as action continued to swing from one end to the other earlier on, but Morocco’s insistence paid off in the 29th minute Abdessamad Rafik scored from AbdelKbir El Ouadi’s crossUganda reacted strongly and threw bodies forward into the Moroccans box but had two efforts cleared off the line.Their equaliser finally arrived in the 59th minute when Sentamu finished off a move to score, but Morocco once again increased their efforts to get the result they needed to win the group and caught the Ugandans on the back foot when they regained the lead in the 77th minute through Iajour Mouhssine who scored with a low shot from just outside the box.The same player could have completed a brace but his attempt after he broke free was well saved by Ntege in the 82nd minute.At the other end Savio Kabugo went near to getting the leveller from a piledriver, but as they threw themselves whole-heatedly on attack in search of the equaliser, they were caught out and eventually punished from a breakaway when Ouadi scored deep inside injury time to make it 3-1.In the other game, Zimbabwe, who had previously drawn 0-0 with Morocco and Uganda, scored the all-important goal through Masimba Mambare who headed home a Milton Ncube cross from the left in the 56th minute.And after missing a number of chances through Simbarashe Sithole, Charles Sibanda, and Peter Moyo, the Warriors of Zimbabwe enjoyed the support of a vociferous crowd and after some sustained pressure finally got it right when Mambare found the target.Zimbabwe also had three other good chances late on to add to their tally but Moyo and Kuda Mahachi either found Burkina Faso goalkeeper Mohamed Kabore on guard or shot wide.In the quarter-finals, Morocco face Nigeria, while Zimbabwe meet Group A winners Mali in Cape Town Stadium.Libya Face Congo for a KO Stage PlaceIn Tuesday’s programme, Libya and Ghana are favourites to reach the last eight stage as they play their final Group C matches. Libya, who currently lead the standing on goal difference from Ghana face another tough task in Congo, whole Ghana meet pointless Ethiopia.Libya’s have the tougher of the two jobs as even though they just need a draw to qualify, they face opponents who are also having a chance to win a place in the quarters. In fact a win would put Congo though.Currently, Libya and Ghana have four points each and Congo three. |
CHAN 2014: Morocco, Zimbabwe Clinch Quarter Finals places with Last Group B wins
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