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The Nairobian

More tears and pain in store as Morocco, Ghana clash today

Football

By Reuters | Jan 10, 2022

**Ghana's forward Caleb Ekuban reacts to a missed penalty during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Round of 16 match against Tunisia, in Cairo, Egypt.** [File]

It is a clash of two African heavyweights in Group C of the Africa Cup of Nations as Morocco square off against Ghana at the Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo today.

The Black Stars will be seeking their fifth title, while the Atlas Lions will be looking to end their 45-year wait for the continental crown following their 1976 triumph.

Morocco enjoyed a sensational qualifying journey where they finished at the summit of Group E to secure smooth entry into the group stages of the tournament.

The Atlas Lions were one of eight sides to go unbeaten in the qualifiers, winning four and drawing two to amass 14 points, five points ahead of runner-up Mauritania.

Morocco head into today’s game on the back of a quarter-final exit from the Arab Cup as they were beaten on penalties by eventual winners Algeria following a 2-2 draw after extra time.

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Prior to that, Vahid Halilhodzic’s men tasted competitive defeat in July 2019, when they were beaten by Benin on penalties in the last 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations — a run of 22 games in which they won 19 and draw three.

Morocco will now look to make up for their Arab Cup woes and secure the continental crown, and three points against fellow group favourites Ghana will be a dream start for the one-time African champion.

Ghana, on the other hand, head into Cameroon as the third-most successful nation at the tournament, claiming the Africa Cup of Nations title on four different occasions.

**July 5, 2019 Morocco's Faycal Fajr looks dejected after the match** REUTERS

However, the Black Stars last conquered the continent four decades ago, when they saw off host nation Libya on penalties following a 1-1 draw after extra time back in 1982.

While they have made it to three different finals since then, they have fallen short on each occasion, with their most recent shortcoming being in 2015, when they lost on penalties at the hands of Ivory Coast.

Meanwhile, Senegal begin their quest for a first-ever Africa Cup of Nations title by taking on Zimbabwe at the Kouekong Stadium today.

Senegal suffered the disappointment of losing back-to-back finals when they fell to South Africa at the last hurdle of the COSAFA Cup.

The Lions of Teranga will be looking to make a statement of intent in their opening fixture.

Standing in the way is an opposing side who have lost each of the three previous meetings between the teams.