Morocco, Sudan in barren draw as Angola whips Rigobert Song out of CHAN

Morocco drew 0-0 against Sudan in their final 2018 CHAN group stage match at the Stade Mohamed V in Casablanca on Sunday despite fielding their second-choice players.

 

Morocco managed to dominate the match with 68 percent possession recording 13 shots with 6 on target but failed to find a way past Akram El Hadi Salim in the Sudan goal. Lions of the Atlas should have scored and taken the lead after they were awarded a penalty in the second half after Walid El Karti was fouled in the area by Bakri Bachir but midfielder Achraf Bencharki failed to convert it as Akram Salim parred the ball away to keep it level. Akram also made a good save from a header by Jawad El Yamiq after 73 minutes.

 

Though they topped the table in group A ahead of Sudan on goal difference after they both ended the group stage on seven points, Morocco were left to regret missing their impressive chances as Sudan were steady in their defense until the final whistle. Guinea finished third with three points and Mauritania bottomed without a point.

 

Despite their goalless draw, Morocco and Sudan qualified for quarter finals and must wait to see who will qualify in Group B to find out who they will face on Saturday as Namibia and Zambia play each other today to decide the winner of their pool.

 

In other matches, Cameroon succumbed to a 1-0 turnaround to a lucky Angola in their second match after their first 1-0 lose against Congo. Rigobert Song led Indomitable Lions were confirmed for an early exit from the on going African Nations Championship after a late penalty goal by captain Ricardo Estevao Job when Owundi Eko'o fouled Vladimir Felix in the box.

 

Cameroon created many chances but could not break through tough Angolan defense. Their crosses could not reach their attackers as they were always closer to Angolan shot stopper Landu. However, Landu was forced into a good save in the 84th minute when he stopped Alphonse Tientcheu's fierce shot from outside the area.

 

Angola, with four points are in pole position to reach the next stage but will still need a win against Congo depending on the results in the match between Burkina Faso and Congo-Brazzaville in the day's kick off to progress.

 

The Lions are bottom in the group without a point ahead of their final group match against Burkina Faso. The exit becomes the first time Cameroon exit the competition in the first round, having reached the quarter finals in 2012 and 2016.