YAOUNDE (Reuters) – Achraf Hakimi curled in a long-range free kick as Morocco got here from behind to beat Malawi 2-1 within the last-16 of the Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday and keep heading in the right direction for his or her first African title in over 45 years.
Fullback Hakimi’s exact strike accomplished the flip round on the Ahmadou Ahidjou Stadium after Youssef En-Nesyri had equalised on the stroke of halftime.
Malawi went forward early after a world class purpose from Frank Mhango, who hit a speculative left-footed effort from some 40 metres out and watched in delight because the swerving ball caught out Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou and crashed into the highest of the web.
Morocco will meet both Ivory Coast or Egypt of their quarter-final in Yaounde.
After a event plagued by upsets, Malawi threatened to trigger one other as Mhango produced an astonishing effort within the seventh minute.
He then had one other probability from a fast counter assault within the twenty third minute to double the lead because the lowly ranked Malawi, taking part in solely their third Cup of Nations finals and getting previous the primary spherical for the primary time, seemed to shake up their closely fancied opponents.
However, they shortly retreated after that and lived a charmed life, as they defended tenaciously, with goalkeeper Charles Thom producing a number of unorthodox saves to maintain his aspect’s lead intact.
Yet he let a header from En-Nesyri slip by means of his fingers for Morocco’s equaliser two minutes into first-half stoppage time and there was little he may do in regards to the rocket-like free kick from Hakimi.
In between there have been a number of shut shaves as Sofiane Boufal missed a straightforward probability and substitute Ryan Mmaee struck huge from shut vary.
Morocco, who gained their solely Cup of Nations in 1976, have had a horror run on the event since they reached the 2004 remaining and misplaced to hosts Tunisia. In six tournaments since they’ve solely reached the quarter-finals as soon as.
Egypt and the Ivory Coast meet of their last-16 conflict in
Douala on Wednesday.
(Writing by Mark Gleeson; Editing by Toby Davis)
