AFCON 2021: An entertaining thriller sees Gabon and Morocco reach the knock-out stages
An enjoyable watch in Yaoundé sees both Gabon and Morocco share the honours to fly to the knockout stages after a 2 – 2 draw, with Gabon advancing to the knock-out stages of the African Cup of Nations for the first time since 2012.
It was a clash of the top 2 in Group C as leaders Morocco and second placed Gabon locked horns in their final group game in AFCON 2021.
Morocco went into the clash with two wins from two and could secure top spot by avoiding defeat, and twenty minutes into the clash, they had the first opportunity to put themselves on course towards a win. It was called back for offside though and from the ensuing freekick, the Gabonese made their first mark, Jim Allevinah with the goal, his second in as many matches. The Gabonese took this lead into the halftime break.
But Morocco would not settle for nought on the night. After the changes made to the side, their first real opportunity came half an hour into the game via a penalty which Sofiane Boufal converted, levelling the scores.
Gabon’s transitions were lightning quick and within minutes of the Sofiane strike, they were in with another chance as Nayef Aguerd scored an own goal to put the Panthers ahead.
Within moments, the match was level once more as Achraf Hakimi scored the third goal in the space of ten minutes. The leveller would see Vahid Halilhodzic’s side top the group, and that is how things ended in Yaounde. 2 – 2 the final score, both sides with the share of the spoils.
Now this was a match to watch and be happy….it had all the thrilling and exciting stuff needed to entertain…nice display of skills and counters all round….both teams did the afcon a solid….