Morocco and DR Congo Battle to 1-1 Draw in Thrilling AFCON Matchup
In a riveting Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) clash, the Atlas Lions of Morocco and the Leopards of the Democratic Republic of the Congo played to a 1-1 draw earlier today. This outcome impedes Morocco's early qualification aspirations for the knockout stage of the tournament.
The match commenced with a flurry of action as Morocco displayed a keen desire to establish an early lead. Striker Youssef En-Nesyri's header nearly found the back of the net in the opening minute off a precise cross from Hakim Ziyech. Shortly thereafter, defender Achraf Hakimi capitalized on a corner kick, propelling Morocco to a 1-0 lead in the 6th minute.
Undeterred, the Congolese squad persistently applied pressure on the Moroccan defense throughout the match. Their tenacity paid off in the 76th minute when forward Silas netted an equalizer, leveling the score at 1-1.
The game was rife with dramatic moments, including a surprising missed penalty by DR Congo after Congolese players earned a chance from the spot following a foul. However, the ball struck the right post, preserving Morocco's slender lead at the time.
Entering this encounter on the back of a commanding 3-0 victory over Tanzania, Morocco leads Group C with 4 points after two matches. DR Congo closely follows with 2 points, while Zambia and Tanzania trail without any points earned thus far.
Buoyed by their impressive World Cup run, Morocco, under the guidance of head coach Walid Regragui, has instilled a resilient mindset in this emerging generation of Moroccan football players. After a trophy drought spanning 48 years, the team is eager to vie for a long-awaited title on African soil.
Meanwhile, two-time champions DR Congo arrived with the intention of making a statement, seeking their third continental trophy after previous triumphs in 1968 and 1974.
Morocco is set to face Zambia on January 24, while DR Congo will take on Tanzania. Both fixtures offer opportunities for these AFCON heavyweights to progress to the knockout stage of this tightly-contested tournament.
Lire aussi
Latest News
- 17:25 Iran's President Offers Olive Branch: Direct Talks with US on the Table
- 17:00 Unveiling the Mystery: Elon Musk's Stealth Project with Tesla
- 16:44 UK PM Starmer Seeks Immigration Strategies from Italy’s Meloni
- 16:20 Morocco: A Rising Star in Global Cybersecurity, Leading the Way in Digital Resilience
- 15:50 Unrelenting Storms Forecast: Morocco Braces for a Week of Turbulence
- 15:33 A Son's Plea: Unraveling the Motives Behind the Florida Golf Course Incident
- 15:20 Morocco's Security Measures: A Strategic Response to Migration Challenges