Tuesday January 31, 2012 Group Stage: Group C Finished Stade d'Angondjé

Niger 0 - 1 Morocco

  • Belhanda 79’

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  1. African Cup of Nations - Morocco exit with win over Niger

    African Cup of Nations - Morocco exit with win over Niger

    Younes Belhanda scored the only goal as Morocco beat Niger 1-0 in an African Cup of Nations Group C dead rubber in Libreville. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Niger
    • Morocco
    • 90+7' There's the final whistle! Morocco end a disappointing tournament on a high note, while Niger go out without winning a single point.
    • 90+5' Another injury now - it's Karim Lancina who looks in some distress for Niger. Just blow the whistle ref...
    • 90+3' Morocco change: Noureddine Amrabat replaces Younes Belhanda.
    • 90+2' A break for injury as Kofi Dankwae is stretchered off. He doesn't look badly hurt. Mainly fed up, actually.
    • 90+1' Four minutes of stoppage time to be played.
    • 90' Chance for Chamakh about eight yards out, but his effort is blocked.
    • 89' Lumped long into the Morocco box, but it's pretty artless stuff from Niger. Time running out.
    • 88' Boussoufa whips in a pacy cross from the left, and Mrani heads over from just a couple of yards! Bad miss.
    • 86' Here comes Morocco on the break with Belhanda... he finds Boussoufa, whose shot is parried over by Kassaly!
    • 85' Boubacar to take a Niger corner left-footed... and Amsif makes a very good claim.
    • 83' Corner on the Niger left...finds a white shirt but he heads high over the bar.
    • 82' On comes Kamilou for Niger, that's their third and final change.
    • 81' Frustration setting in for Niger now - Maazou is booked for a rash challenge.
    • 80' Niger were furious about that goal. They think Chamakh handled in the build-up and they may well be right. He may also have been offside...
    • 79' GOAL!! Younes Belhanda gives Morocco the lead! He receives a neat through-ball from Chamakh and fires into the roof of the net!
    • 78' Another Moroccan corner is cleared by Kowa.
    • 77' ...but a dreaful corner, too deep. And Niger clear.
    • 76' Corner Morocco on the left, decent delivery needed...
    • 75' So, a quarter of an hour to go - can either side conjure a winner? Hard to say the game deserves a goal...
    • 73' Boussoufa hits a long shot that bounces just in front of Kassaly, who has doen well tonight.
    • 71' Carcela hits a shot from just inside the box... it's well saved by Kassaly, but there is a push in the box anyway. Free-kick Niger.
    • 70' Knocked long for the livewire Maazou, but there is no accuracy on the ball...
    • 69' Well done Daouda Kassaly! The Niger goalkeeper races out to make a good catch from Boussoufa's cross.
    • 67' Goal in the other game - Gabon are in front against Tunisia, and if it stays like that the co-hosts will probably avoid Ghana in the last eight. Gabon v Tunisia: LIVE
    • 65' Morocco change: On comes a striker Mehdi Carcela-Gonzalez for Hadji.
    • 64' It's a poor free-kick, and Morocco can defend it easily.
    • 63' Boukhriss brings down Alhassane and Niger have a chance to launch it long.
    • 61' Niger change: Issoufou Alhassane comes on for William Ngounou.
    • 60' William intercepts in midfield and plays it throug for Maazou - just too much pace on the pass but that's a decent opportunity.
    • 58' Chance for Boussoufa! He is plaed through by a lovely Belhanda pass, but Daouda smothers it. The keeper's having a good game.
    • 57' Chamakh controls brilliantly inside the Niger box, but somehow forgets to have a shot, turns and plays it backwards. Poor.
    • 55' Long ball into the Niger box... Daouda claims it, drops it and picks it up again.
    • 54' Amadou Kader fouls Chamakh and Morocco will have a free-kick on the left, 30 yards from goal.
    • 53' Ooh, that's a bad two-footed tackle from the Niger substitute Issiakou Koudize - but the referee decides a yellow card will suffice. He's a lucky man.
    • 52' Crossed from the Niger left, but it is over Boubacar.
    • 50' In addition to our deadline day coverage, we've got live coverage from all five of tonight's Premier League games - Ben Amos starts for Manchester United, while Liverpool's Steven Gerrard and Tottenha,'s Jermain Defoe are not involved. Premier League: LIVE
    • 48' Blimey! Niger have a free-kick 40 yards out that they tee up for Karim Lancina - he smashes a powerful shot that brings a fine diving stop from Amsif!
    • 47' Almost immediately, a yellow card for Morocco's Abdelfettah Boukhriss for a rash tackle on William Ngounou.
    • 46' Second half under way!
    • 45+1' Well, that's half-time. It's not a classic. I have nothing more to say. Back in a few minutes.
    • 45' We're going to have a single minute of added time.
    • 44' Hadji chases a through ball but he knows it is a lost cause and it bounces through to Daouda in goal.
    • 42' A yellow card for Hermach, who came on without being given permission! A bit bizarre. If Morocco had another game, he would miss it through suspension - but they haven't.
    • 41' And that's the end of Khaja - he is brought off for Adil Hermach.
    • 40' Morocco skipper Houssine Kharja is down injured and will get stretchered off. Looked innocuous enough.
    • 39' Six minutes until the break, and both sides getting closer to an opening goal. As completely irrelevant dead rubbers go, I've seen worse. How's that for a ringing endoresement?
    • 37' Will that be a wake-up call for Morocco? Can they respond?
    • 36' MAAZOU!! The Niger star man hits the bar! He brings the ball down on his thigh, lets it bounce once then cracks a shot that clips the top of the bar on its way over!
    • 34' No goals in the group's other game, with Gabon and Tunisia locked at 0-0. Gabon v Tunisia
    • 33' Better from Morocco! El Kaddouri makes a penetrating run into the box. receives Boussoufa's through ball and sees his shot saved by Daouda. Best move of the match, though.
    • 31' Niger are coming into the game after a slow start. But the pace is not brilliant, and neither side looks too threatening.
    • 30' Down at the other end, Maazou strikes a long shot that bounces awkwardly in front of Amsif who makes a clumsy but ultimately effective save.
    • 28' Well, Morocco have dominated but they are yet to test Kassaly Daouda in the Niger goal.
    • 27' Belhanda exchanges passes with Chamakh but his attempted shot is charged down.
    • 25' Half-chance for Youssouf Hadji as he latches on to a Kharja cross but cannot get a clean shot away.
    • 24' Boussoufa fouls Boubacar and Niger can launch it into the Morocco area.
    • 22' Elsewhere in Group C, Gabon are playing Tunisia. Those teams have both qualified, but the winners will most likely avoid Ghana in the last eight. A prize worth winning...
    • 20' Younes Belhanda lets fly from 25 yards and sends the ball skimming over the bar.
    • 19' Here are all the Group C details so far. African Cup of Nations: Group C
    • 17' This is an important game for Morocco coach Eric Gerets, who has come in for fierce criticism for his side's dismal performances so far. A convincing win here would help.
    • 16' Niger win a free-kick for a foul on William Ngounou, who has been one of their better players so far.
    • 14' El Ahmadi produces a great piece of skill to flick the ball down the right-hand touchline...
    • 13' It has been a good start from Morocco, who have dominated the early exchanges.
    • 12' Younes Belhanda dribbles towards the right edge of the box, but Mohamed Soumaila blocks his path and makes a good tackle.
    • 10' Maazou is inside the box again, but Jamal Alioui makes a decent tackle. Corner.
    • 9' Moussa Maazou delivers an inswinging cross from the left, but it curls out for a goal kick.
    • 7' Wasteful by Boussoufa for Morocco, who recieves a cross on the left side of the box, but declines to pull the trigger and inexplicably squares it.
    • 6' Given away sloppily by Badr El Kaddouri... a chance for Niger to break?
    • 5' This 40,000-capacity stadium is pretty dead, it must be said. Just a smattering of fans.
    • 4' Bad miss by Houssine Kharja after Chamakh tees him up 12 yards out... but he sidefoots wide!
    • 2' Morocco are playing in red shirts and shorts, with white socks. Niger in white shirts and shorts, red socks.
    • 1' Under way in Stade d'Angondje, Libreville.
    • 17:55 Missing players for Niger: Amadou Moutari and Amadou Kader; for Morocco: Michael Basser, Youssef El Arabi, Ossama Assaida. Mehdi El Mouttaqui is suspended.
    • 17:50 Can you imagine anybody in any situation anywhere being less motivated than Adel Taarabt for this match? The QPR man is on the bench. Look for an extraordinary lack of effort if he comes on.
    • 17:45 Tonight's referee is Hamada Nampiandraza of Madagascar.
    • 17:40 NIGER: Daouda, Bulus, Dan Kowa, Mohamed, Soumaila, Harouna Bonnes, Lancina, N'Gounou, Seydou Ali, Issoufou, Moussa Maazou... Subs: Saminou, Kader Amadou, Laouali, Idrissa, Kamilou, Talatou, Issoufou, Moussa, Mazadou, Koudize, Moutari Amadou, Doumbia... MOROCCO: Amsif, Alioui, Boukhriss, Mrani, El Kaddouri, Belhanda, Kharja, El Ahmadi, Boussoufa, Hadji, Chamakh... Subs: Lamyaghri, Chretien, Kantari, Benatia, Hermach, Taarabt, El Arabi, Assaidi, El Kaoutari, Carcela-Gonzalez, Amrabat, Badda.
    • 17:35 This is something of a dead rubber. Both teams are out of the tournament having lost both of their games so far. Particularly disappointing for the Moroccans, who entered the tournament among the favourites.
    • 17:30 Welcome to live coverage of this African Cup of Nations group game between Niger and Morocco.

  • Summary

    • 79' GOAL!! Younes Belhanda gives Morocco the lead! He receives a neat through-ball from Chamakh and fires into the roof of the net!
    • 58' Chance for Boussoufa! He is plaed through by a lovely Belhanda pass, but Daouda smothers it. The keeper's having a good game.
    • 48' Blimey! Niger have a free-kick 40 yards out that they tee up for Karim Lancina - he smashes a powerful shot that brings a fine diving stop from Amsif!
    • 36' MAAZOU!! The Niger star man hits the bar! He brings the ball down on his thigh, lets it bounce once then cracks a shot that clips the top of the bar on its way over!
    • 33' Better from Morocco! El Kaddouri makes a penetrating run into the box. receives Boussoufa's through ball and sees his shot saved by Daouda. Best move of the match, though.
    • 4' Bad miss by Houssine Kharja after Chamakh tees him up 12 yards out... but he sidefoots wide!
    • 17:40 NIGER: Daouda, Bulus, Dan Kowa, Mohamed, Soumaila, Harouna Bonnes, Lancina, N'Gounou, Seydou Ali, Issoufou, Moussa Maazou... Subs: Saminou, Kader Amadou, Laouali, Idrissa, Kamilou, Talatou, Issoufou, Moussa, Mazadou, Koudize, Moutari Amadou, Doumbia... MOROCCO: Amsif, Alioui, Boukhriss, Mrani, El Kaddouri, Belhanda, Kharja, El Ahmadi, Boussoufa, Hadji, Chamakh... Subs: Lamyaghri, Chretien, Kantari, Benatia, Hermach, Taarabt, El Arabi, Assaidi, El Kaoutari, Carcela-Gonzalez, Amrabat, Badda.

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Niger

    Manager: Harouna Doulla

  • Morocco

    Manager: Eric Gerets

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

    Please to rate the players.

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    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      5.8 6
      Defenders
      4.8 7
      Yellow Card 4.5 6
      4.8 7
      5.2 7
      Midfielders
      Substitution Out45′ 4.5 6
      Substitution Out82′ 4.8 6
      5 7
      Strikers
      6.4 7
      Substitution Out61′ 5 7
      Yellow Card 6.4 8
      Subs
      Substitution In82′ - -
      Substitution In61′ 4 6
      Substitution In45′ Yellow Card 5 -
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      7.4 6
      Defenders
      6.7 6
      6.5 6
      Yellow Card 6.5 7
      6.5 7
      Midfielders
      6.3 6
      Substitution Out41′ 7 6
      Goal Substitution Out90′ 7.5 7
      6.3 7
      Substitution Out65′ 5.3 6
      Strikers
      5.7 6
      Subs
      Substitution In90′ 8.8 -
      Substitution In65′ 9 7
      Substitution In41′ Yellow Card 5.3 6

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