Guinea eye Morocco scalp in Casablanca

Abdelilah Hafidi of Morocco crosses ball from Souleimane Brahim of Mauritania during the 2018 Chan football game between Morocco and Mauritania at Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca, Morocco on 13 January 2018 ©Gavin Barker/BackpagePix

by Bertin Basson

Tuesday Jan 16, 2018. 17:00

Guinea will be eyeing an upset when they go head-to-head with Morocco in a Group A 2018 African Nations Championship (Chan) clash at the Stade Mohamed V in Casablanca on Wednesday.

Kick-off is at 18h30 CAT.

The Atlas Lions got their campaign off to a winning start with goals from Ayoub El Kaabi (brace), Ismail El Haddad and Achraf Bencharki leading the hosts to an emphatic 4-0 victory over Mauritania at the very same venue.

Moroccan national team coach Jamal Sellami expressed his delight in the North African's result in the aftermath, as they now set their sights on toppling Guinea.

"The opening match is always difficult," said Sellami. “Our first goal netted in the second half pushed us forward."

Morocco struggled to break down a resolute Mauritanian outfit, but following El Kaabi's opener in the 66th minute - the floodgates opened.

"We were playing in front of our own fans and the first match is always a bit complicated," Morocco midfielder Salaheddine Saidi added in an interview with KweséESPN.

"In the second half, we came back into the game well focused and we made the most of our chances. The key thing was to take three points, and I hope it will continue like that for the next game."

Guinea will be eager to bounce back from an opening round defeat to Sudan. Sékou Camara pulled the Syli Nationale level just before the hour mark, but the West African's would be denied a point as their opponents walked away with the spoils.