CHAN 2018 - Morocco 2-0 Namibia - As it happened

by Graeme Jackson

Saturday Jan 27, 2018. 20:17

Welcome to as-it-happened coverage of the 2018 African Nations Championship quarterfinal between hosts Morocco and Namibia at the Stade Mohamed V in Casablanca.

Commentary:
All times CAT

90+4' - Full time - Done and dusted in Casablanca, Morocco win 2-0 and advance to the semfinals! They will face the winner of the fourth quarterfinal between Congo and Libya, which will be played in Agadir tomorrow night.

90+1' - There will be three minutes of added time.

89' - Substitution - Shitembi replaced by Roger Katjiteo in Namibia's last swap.

87' - Substitution - El Mehdi Barrahma replaces Saidi in Morocco's last change.

84' - Good surge forward from Hammoudan, with the Atlas Lions looking to add to their advantage in the dying minutes.

80' - Great attack from Namibia, but it ends with Fredericks being beaten to a ball by Boulahroud, who makes a desperate clearance.

79' - Substitution - El Kaabi makes way for Ahmed Hammoudan in Morocco's second change.

78' - Nahiri shoots direct from the set piece and rattles the crossbar!

77' - Hadraf wins a free kick right on the edge of the Namibian penalty area. This is a great opportunity for the hosts...

73' - Shitembi with a good low ball across the penalty area, but Namibia are unable to capitalise. It's just not happening for the Brave Warriors.

69' - Yellow card - Saidi goes into the book for a trip on Fredericks.

66' - Substitution - Benyamen Nenkavu replaces Nekundi in another change for Namibia.

65' - Namibia need to throw caution to the wind in an effort to get back into this one, but Morocco have looked rock solid in defence.

59' - Substitution - Haddad makes way for Zakaria Hadraf in Morocco's first change.

55' - GOAL! Morocco 2-0 Namibia - Saidi doubles Morocco's advantage, beating the goalkeeper to Bencharki's corner kick and scoring with a glancing header just inside the far post!

53' - Haddad sends a wicked low ball across the face of goal after beating a couple of challenges, but there's nobody in place to finish it off!

48' - Nahiri with a great ball into the box, but El Kaabi fires wildly off target.

46' - Substitution - Back underway in the second half, Namibia have made a change by swapping out Karongee for Teberius Lombard.

45+2' - Half time - So far, so good for Morocco. El Kaabi's goal sees the Atlas Lions 1-0 up and on course for the final four as things stand.

45+1' - Yellow card - Namibia's Karongee cautioned for a hand-ball in trying to win a corner kick in Morocco's box.

41' - Just a few minutes to half time, Morocco will be happy with their work so far but they'd love a second goal before the interval...

37' - GOAL! Morocco 1-0 Namibia - Quick-thinking from Morocco, they take another free kick before Namibia's defence can settle, El Karti sends El Kaabi through on goal and the striker slips a low shot past the goalkeeper to break the deadlock!

35' - Limbondi with a long-range hit which is straight into the arms of goalkeeper Zniti.

30' - Morocco with a free kick on the right flank. Bencharki delivers, Banoun can't get a clean header and the ball bounces wide of the mark.

29' - Corner kick Namibia, Limbondi delivers from their left but it's headed clear by Haddad at the near post.

25' - Haddad with a long-range effort, but it's high and wide.

23' - Midway through the first half, still goalless in this first CHAN quarterfinal between Morocco and Namibia.

20' - A couple of corner kicks in quick succession for the Atlas Lions, they are beginning to dial up the pressure on the Brave Warriors.

16' - Great save from Namibian 'keeper Kazapua! He palms away El Karti's glancing header from a corner kick to keep his side on level terms!

14' - Namibia set up very deep in defence, but they have good pace on the counter attack when they do break forward.

9' - Now it's Morocco's turn to blow a great opportunity! They take a quick free kick with a Namibian man down, Haddad squares for Bencharki, who hesitates before eventually shooting over with a poor effort!

7' - Great chance missed for Namibia! An in-swinging free kick should have been nodded home by Ngaruka, but he completely misses the ball!

4' - Early pressure from Morocco, who are looking to use the flanks and stretch Namibia's defence from side to side.

1' - Kick-off - We are underway in Casablanca! Morocco wear red and green, while Namibia are in all-white.

18h20 - Our referee today is Mahamadou Keita from Mali, assisted by Arsenio Maringula from Mozambique and Seydou Tiama from Burkina Faso.

18h10 - The winner of this match will advance into the first semifinal - set for the same venue in Casablanca on Wednesday, 31 January - where they will face the winner of the fourth quarterfinal between Congo and Libya, which be played in Agadir tomorrow night.

18h00 - With half an hour to kick-off, here are the starting line-ups:

Morocco: 1. Anas Zniti, 5. Jawad El Yamiq, 6. Badr Boulahroud, 8. Salaheddine Saidi, 9. Ayoub El Kaabi, 10. Walid El Karti, 11. Ismail Haddad, 13. Badr Banoun, 16. Mohamed Nahiri, 17. Achraf Bencharki, 20. Abdeljalil Jbira

Namibia: 1. Lloyd Kazapua, 3. Vetunuavi Hambira, 4. Welwin Hanamub, 5. Ferdinand Karongee, 8. Dynamo Fredericks, 11. Absalom Limbondi, 12. Ronald Ketjijere, 17. Itamunua Keimuine, 18. Vitapi Ngaruka, 19. Petrus Shitembi, 22. Panduleni Nekundi