Morocco to Africa Cup quarter final after 2-1 victory over Malawi

Morocco has qualified for the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup on Tuesday.

A nice free kick by Achraf Hakimi made the difference. The Atlas Lions won 2-1 against Malawi.

The team of national coach Vahid Halilhodzic had a weak start to the game in Yaoundé in Cameroon. Thanks to a wonderful goal, Malawi took the lead after seven minutes of play. Gabadinho Mhango shot the ball into the corner from about 35 meters away.

Even before halftime, the ‘Lions of the Atlas’ got over the bad start. In the stoppage time of the first half, Youssef En Nesyri headed a cross from Selim Amallah against the ropes. It was only his first goal of the tournament for the Sevilla striker.

The current number 28 in the FIFA rankings dictated the game, constantly running into a wall of defenders from Malawi. In the seventieth minute the winning 2-1 fell for the Atlas Lions.

Star player Hakimi curled a free kick of about 30 meters into the corner. Morocco faces a tough opponent in the last eight of the tournament. The team will compete against Egypt.

It is only for the third time in this century that Morocco has reached the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup. Five years ago, Egypt was too strong 1-0 and in 2004 the Moroccan team lost the final to Tunisia.

Morocco won the Africa Cup in 1976.