The Atlas Lions of Morocco delivered a commanding performance on Saturday night, thrashing Ghana 8-3 in a thrilling TotalEnergies CAF Futsal Africa Cup of Nations encounter at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Hall.
Under the guidance of coach Hicham Dguig, Morocco wasted no time asserting their dominance, with Youssef Jouad stunning the visitors just 15 seconds into the match. Jouad’s composed finish beat Ghanaian goalkeeper Rapheal Tsigbe to give Morocco an early lead and set the tone for an electrifying contest.
Captain Soufiane El Mesrar doubled Morocco’s advantage moments later, unleashing a powerful left-footed strike from outside the area that left the Ghanaian defense stunned. The home crowd erupted in jubilation as the Atlas Lions seized control of the match.
Ghana responded with a deflected set-piece goal from Prince Arthur, briefly halting Morocco’s momentum. However, Morocco swiftly restored their two-goal cushion through Soufiane Charraoui’s splendid effort, maintaining their relentless attacking display.
El Mesrar continued to showcase his leadership and prowess, extending Morocco’s lead to 4-1 with a well-executed finish orchestrated by Youssef Jouad. Despite Ghana pulling one back through Philip Nii Boye just before halftime, Morocco remained resolute and focused on their offensive strategy.
The second half witnessed both teams engaging in a fierce battle, with Ghana striving to narrow the deficit. However, Morocco’s quality and determination shone through.
El Mesrar won a penalty 12 minutes into the half, expertly converted by Bilal Bakkali to extend Morocco’s lead to 6-3 and deflate Ghana’s hopes of a comeback.
Morocco continued to dominate proceedings, with Khalid Bouzid and Youssef Jouad adding further goals to seal an emphatic 8-3 victory for the Atlas Lions. The comprehensive win delighted the home supporters and solidified Morocco’s position at the summit of Group A.
Coach Hicham Dguig expressed his satisfaction with his team’s performance, praising their commitment and execution on the court. “The players executed the game plan perfectly tonight. We started strong and maintained our intensity throughout the match,” said Dguig.
Meanwhile, Ghana’s coach reflected on his team’s shortcomings and emphasized the need for improvement ahead of their next fixture. “We faced a very strong Moroccan side today. We will regroup, learn from this experience, and come back stronger for our remaining matches,” commented Ghana’s coach.
With this victory, Morocco sits comfortably at the top of Group A with six points from two matches, firmly on course for a semifinal berth in the TotalEnergies CAF Futsal AFCON. Angola and Zambia closely trail with three points each, while Ghana faces an uphill battle to revive their campaign.
The TotalEnergies CAF Futsal AFCON continues to showcase the intensity and excitement of African futsal, with teams vying for glory and the opportunity to etch their names in continental futsal history. Morocco’s emphatic display against Ghana reaffirms their status as contenders for the prestigious title, setting the stage for an exhilarating remainder of the tournament.
PHOTO: CAF Online
