LIVE: Morocco v Benin | AFCON Last 16 | Egypt 2019
Match Info:
Time: 12:00 ET Canada-USA | 18:00 Cairo Local Time
Venue: Al Salam Stadium
Referee: Helder Martins de Carvalho (Angola)
Two nations who are looking to secure a quarter-final showdown, Morocco will face off against Benin in Cairo tonight.
Morocco
Starting with Morocco, while the Atlas Lions could only pick up a point out in Russia last year and slumped to the bottom of Group B behind Iran, Hervé
Renard’s side find their confidence at a high. While a run of three consecutive defeats prior to their African Cup of Nations campaign had many questioning the Frenchman’s position in charge, the Reds managed to secure their spot in the knockout stage and they once again impressed in their 1-0 win over South Africa Monday.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FI1WCaN9I5I
With Mbark Boussoufa’s 90th-minute winner completing a trio of wins out in Egypt this summer, Morocco topped Group D with a three-point buffer over the Ivory Coast and the North African outfit have continued to shine defensively. Dominating against South Africa earlier in the week and recording yet another clean sheet, the Atlas Lions did not concede a single goal during the group stage and are just one of three teams to achieve that feat.
Benin
As for Benin, while Les Écureuils may have failed to secure a spot out in Gabon two years ago, the Yellows were overjoyed to secure a route out of Group F as one of the four best third-placed teams. While the Squirrels may have not produced much in the final third against Cameroon on Tuesday, Michel Dussuyer’s side
managed to pick up a 0-0 draw against the defending champions a result that saw the Benin players sink to their knees and kiss the ground in celebration.
Picking up three consecutive draws, there is no doubt that the former Ivory Coast boss will be demanding his side show a more clinical edge if they’re to carry on what could be a famous summer. Recording just a single goal in almost 300 minutes of action, the Yellows also hold a very worrying record against their opponents on Friday evening. Suffering an empathic 6-1 hammering when the two sides met back in 2014, Benin have lost both of their previous two matches against Morocco, conceding 10 goals and scoring just one in return.
