Morocco defeated Ghana 1-0 in a dreary Africa Cup of Nations Group C opener at Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo on Monday thanks to Sofiane Boufal’s late goal.
Until Boufal scored an 83rd-minute winner in Yaounde, the Black Stars and Atlas Lions appeared to be heading for a point apiece in a game that lacked in entertainment.
When Morocco captain Romain Saiss nodded Boufal’s fizzed free-kick over the bar a few minutes before the end of a dismal first half, he missed a good chance to open the score.
Although the quality did not improve after the interval, Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou made a fantastic stop after 72 minutes to deflect Joseph Paintsil’s measured right-foot shot around the post.
Boufal then stole the win with a right-footed strike from within the penalty area after the ball bounced off Thomas Partey’s boot and fell neatly for him, and Ghana had no chance.
