Sofiane Boufal’s late strike gave Morocco a 1-0 victory over Ghana in a drab Africa Cup of Nations Group C opener at Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo on Monday.
The Black Stars and the Atlas Lions looked to be heading for a point apiece from a match that was lacking in entertainment until Boufal popped up with an 83rd-minute winner in Yaounde.
Morocco captain Romain Saiss failed to take a good chance to open the scoring when he nodded Boufal’s fizzed free-kick over the bar a few minutes before the end of a poor first half
The quality did not improve after the break, but Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou produced a brilliant save to tip Joseph Paintsil’s measured right-foot shot around the post after 72 minutes.
Boufal then snatched the victory when he drilled in with his right foot from inside the penalty area after the ball came off Thomas Partey’s boot and fell nicely for him and there was no way back for Ghana.
