The national football squad of the Democratic Republic of Congo showcased its resilience in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) held in Cote d’Ivoire, securing a second consecutive draw against Morocco’s Atlas Lions with a 1-1 scoreline in the second group stage match.
Striker Youssef En-Nesyri made an early attempt to give Morocco the lead, narrowly missing a header from a cross by Hakim Ziyech within the first minute of play. Nevertheless, Morocco’s defender Achraf Hakimi capitalized on a corner kick six minutes later, netting the opening goal and setting the stage for a potential qualification to the knockout stage.
A pivotal moment arose when the Congolese Leopards were awarded a penalty kick due to a foul by Selim Amallah. Despite this golden opportunity, the Lions were fortunate as the Congolese player failed to convert, striking the ball against the right post.
In contrast to the Morocco-Tanzania match dynamics, the Congolese squad maintained relentless pressure on the Atlas Lions throughout the entire game. It was in the 76th minute that Congo’s forward Silas scored an equalizer, dimming Morocco’s prospects for an early qualification.
With 4 points in the group standings, Morocco now needs a victory in its third game to secure a spot in the round of 16. The motivation instilled by Moroccan head coach Walid Regragui, derived from the team’s performance in the recent World Cup in Qatar, was evident in their AFCON debut—a resounding 3-0 triumph over Tanzania on January 17.
After a 48-year trophy drought, the emerging generation of Moroccan footballers aspires to clinch victory by defending their title in the ongoing tournament.
In the initial encounter with Zambia, another former champion, the Congolese Leopards battled to a 1-1 draw, earning one point each in the group standings.
The trophy cabinet of the Congolese Leopards boasts two African cups, secured in 1968 and 1974, propelling the team into the competition with aspirations of claiming a third championship.
Morocco’s final group stage clash is scheduled for January 24 against Zambia at the San Pedro Stadium, commencing at 8:00 p.m. Moroccan Time.
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