Wednesday, 1 February 2012

Belhanda Morocco Goal Not Enough

Morocco bowed out of the 2012 Orange Africa Cup of Nations on a high note after beating Niger 1-0 in their Group C encounter on Tuesday in Libreville.

Younes Belhanda scored the only goal of the match on 79 minutes to hand the Atlas Lions a winning note to their not impressive campaign at the tournament.

There was nothing at stake for both teams as they were playing for academic purposes but were bent on bowing out of the competition on a positive note.

The fact that there were no major changes in the line ups of the two teams affirmed the importance both teams attached to the ultimate matches of the group phase.

After a barren first half, both teams lifted up their game in their quest to score and lighten up the game.

But it was Morocco, who scored what turned out to be winner in the closing stages to seal the three points through Belhanda.

By the victory, the Atlas Lions finished on three points, six points adrift of leaders Gabon, who beat Tunisia 1-0 in Franceville. Tunisia followed on six points with Niger at the bottom pointless.