Image copyright: Getty Images
Morocco v Ghana
2021 Africa Cup of Nations
Group C, Matchday 1
Monday 10 January 2022
Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaounde
Kick-off at 16:00
Morocco and Ghana will get their Group C Africa Cup of Nations campaign underway with a heavyweight battle at the Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaounde on the evening of Monday 10 January 2022, kick-off at 16:00.
Morocco are former Nations Cup champions, though their lone title came way back in 1976. They were runners-up in 2004, but since then have reached only one quarterfinal, while the last edition in 2019 saw them exit in the round of 16 after a shock penalty loss to Benin.
Image copyright: Getty Images
The Atlas Lions – led by former Ivory Coast and Algeria coach Vahid Halilhodzic – will be hoping to go deep in the 2021 AFCON and certainly have the necessary blend of experience (Romain Saiss, Munir Mohamedi) and exiting talent (Achraf Hakimi, Aymen Barkom and Youssef En-Nesyri) to challenge the tournament favourites.
Halilhodzic has stamped his authority by leaving out star player Hakim Ziyech out of the squad. The Chelsea player had crossed swords with the coach in the latter half of 2021. “For me, the national team is above everything, nobody can hold it hostage,” said Halilhodzic.
Ghana are four-time champions of the AFCON, though they have not lifted the trophy since way back in 1982. Ending a now 40-year drought will be the aim for coach Milovan Rajevac and a squad which boasts vast experience in Andre and Jordan Ayew, Mubarak Wakaso and Jonathan Mensah, but the lack of a prolific number nine could be a stumbling block.
Former Black Stars player Emmanuel Frimpong believes Ghana aren’t good enough to triumph in Cameroon: “No, I don't think we have a squad that is good enough but in football, you never know. Nobody backed Italy for the Euros but they won it, you never know.”
In head-to-head stats, Morocco and Ghana have met in 11 matches across all competitions since 1961, with the Atlas Lions claiming five wins compared to three for the Black Stars, while three games have been drawn.
The teams last met in an international friendly in June 2021 in Rabat, with Morocco winning 1-0 thanks to a goal midway through the second half from Jawad El Yamiq.
Morocco v Ghana – Head-to-head
Matches played: 11
Morocco wins: 5
Ghana wins: 3
Draws: 3
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