CAIRO, Egypt, Jun 28 – Morocco coach Herve Renard masterminded another victory over his former team Ivory Coast on Friday as a 1-0 win sent the north Africans through to the last 16 in Egypt.

Youssef En-Nesyri’s superb first-half goal in Cairo earned Renard and Morocco a third win in a row over an Ivorian side he coached to the Africa Cup of Nations title in 2015.

After ending Ivory Coast’s involvement at the 2017 edition and qualifying for last year’s World Cup at their expense, Morocco again got the better of their west African opponents in a meeting of the top two sides in Group D.

Morocco need a point in their final game against South Africa to be assured of top spot, although Ivory Coast will likely still join them in the knockout rounds as runners-up with a match to come against underdogs Namibia.

Jonathan Kodjia struck the winner in Ivory Coast’s opening 1-0 win over South Africa and the rangy Aston Villa forward nearly struck inside the first minute, connecting with Serge Aurier’s flighted cross only for Romain Saiss to brilliantly head over from under his own bar.

Morocco had toiled in the sweltering afternoon heat in their 1-0 victory over Namibia in their first game and they too went close in front of a mostly full Al Salam Stadium when En-Nesyri flashed a shot just the wrong side of the post from Nabil Dirar’s smart cross.

Leganes forward En-Nesyri put Morocco ahead on 23 minutes but it was the work from Nordin Amrabat that deserved much of the credit, the former Watford winger slaloming past three Ivorian defenders before slipping a cute ball through for En-Nesyri to slot beyond Sylvain Gbohouo.

Nicolas Pepe almost brought the Ivorians level moments later as the ball fell to him on the edge of the box after Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou knocked the ball away from Max Gradel, but the in-demand Lille star failed to hit the target with a pair of covering defenders.

Amrabat and En-Nesyri promptly combined once more to great effect, the former dummying intelligently to allow the forward a low strike at goal that Gbohouo saved well before falling on the rebound.

Midfielder Geoffrey Serey Die thumped just over from distance after a poor Bounou clearance as Ivory Coast struggled to carve out genuine openings while Younes Belhanda, back in the Morocco side after injury, forced Gbohouo to push over his curling effort.

Ivory Coast substitute Wilfried Bony, without a club following his release by Swansea, planted a header wide with Ismael Traore’s spectacular overhead attempt smothered comfortably by Bounou.

Noussair Mazraoui, on as a late replacement for Hakim Ziyech, volleyed against the bar in stoppage time after a clinical break as Morocco closed out a win that should leave them on course to face a third-place finisher for a spot in the quarter-finals.

%thecontent%%avatar%

%author%

%authornetworks%

%authordescription%

%authornetworks%

Comments

%sidebar%","opedarticle":"","sidead1":"ff","sidead2":"dd","sidead3":"","homestory":"

%title%

%game%%date%Read More--","taxonomyitem":"

%title%

%game%%date%Read More------","fixtureitem":"%name1%%score1%VS%score2%%name2%%time%","home":"rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn 1rn 2rn 3rn 4rn 5rn rn rn rn

There is no character in our team u2013 Amunike

rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn rn Friday, 28th Jun 2019rn rn rn rn Read Articlern rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrnrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

More Headlines

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Renard’s Morocco sink Ivory Coast again at Cup of Nationsrn

rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn rn rn 5 minutes ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Captain Khazri salvages Cup of Nations draw for Tunisiarn

rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn rn rn 2 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn AC Milan accept European ban for financial fair play violationsrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 5 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Wanyama to treat Stars to dinner in Cairorn

rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn rn rn 8 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn F1 teams reject plan to revert to 2018 tyresrn

rn rn Motorsrn rn rn rn 9 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Brazil exorcize penalty demons, reach Copa semisrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 10 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrn rn rn

Most Popular

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn rn rn rn Wanyama to treat Stars to dinner in Cairorn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn rn rn rn Olunga double earns Kenya AFCON hopern rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn I didnu2019t recognize my team, says Mignern rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn rn rn rn Joash ruled out of Algeria AFCON openerrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Athleticsrn rn rn rn rn Soi, Tanui book 10k slots for Africa Gamesrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Motorsrn rn rn rn rn Stage set for WRC Safari Candidate Eventrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Kipchoge's sub-2hr marathon set for Viennarn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn rn rn rn Stars handed Algeria loss in AFCON openerrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Manyatta, Al-Ahly clash in Chapa Dimba finalrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

All Sports

rn trn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Renard’s Morocco sink Ivory Coast again at Cup of Nations

rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn Friday, 28th Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Captain Khazri salvages Cup of Nations draw for Tunisia

rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn Friday, 28th Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

AC Milan accept European ban for financial fair play violations

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Friday, 28th Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

F1 teams reject plan to revert to 2018 tyres

rn rn rn Motorsrn rn Friday, 28th Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Brazil exorcize penalty demons, reach Copa semis

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Friday, 28th Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Poll Question

rn rn ntnttnttntt

WILL EGYPT WIN 2019 AFCON AT HOME?

ntt
• YES
ntt
• NO
ntt

View Results

ntnn Loading ...n rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Onana eager to honour rich goalkeeping heritage

rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn Friday, 28th Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Appiah promises end to Cameroon dominance of Ghana

rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn Friday, 28th Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Folau anti-gay row headed to court as mediation fails

rn rn rn Rugbyrn rn Friday, 28th Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Brazil’s Tite blasts ‘absurd’ state of Copa surface

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Friday, 28th Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

‘No fear’: England confident of overcoming semi-final curse after beating Norway

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Friday, 28th Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Load More Storiesrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Sponsored

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Featured

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Capital Sportrn There is no character in our team u2013 Amunikern rn rn Viewrn rn Friday, 28th Jun 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Capital Sportrn Ferreira still topu00a0at KCB Karen Mastersrn rn rn Viewrn rn Friday, 28th Jun 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Capital Sportrn Dagoretti, Upper Hill clash in Copa U16 finalrn rn rn Viewrn rn Friday, 28th Jun 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Captain Khazri salvages Cup of Nations draw for Tunisiarn rn rn Viewrn rn Friday, 28th Jun 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Leclerc on top in chaotic Austrian practicern rn rn Viewrn rn Friday, 28th Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnttt","sidebar":"rn rn rntrn rn t

Most Popular

rn rn t rn t

rn tWanyama to treat Stars to dinner in Cairorn

rn AFCON 2019rn rn Friday, 28th Jun 2019rn rn rn t

rn tOlunga double earns Kenya AFCON hopern

rn AFCON 2019rn rn Friday, 28th Jun 2019rn rn rn t

rn tI didnu2019t recognize my team, says Mignern

rn Footballrn rn Monday, 24th Jun 2019rn rn rn t

rn tJoash ruled out of Algeria AFCON openerrn

rn AFCON 2019rn rn Sunday, 23rd Jun 2019rn rn rn t

rn tSoi, Tanui book 10k slots for Africa Gamesrn

rn Athleticsrn rn Saturday, 22nd Jun 2019rn rn rn t

rn tStage set for WRC Safari Candidate Eventrn

rn Motorsrn rn Wednesday, 26th Jun 2019rn rn rn t

rn tKipchoge's sub-2hr marathon set for Viennarn

rn Footballrn rn Thursday, 27th Jun 2019rn rn rn t

rn tStars handed Algeria loss in AFCON openerrn

rn AFCON 2019rn rn Monday, 24th Jun 2019rn rn rn t

rn tManyatta, Al-Ahly clash in Chapa Dimba finalrn

rn Footballrn rn Saturday, 22nd Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn trn rn rnrn rn rn rn t

Featured

rn rn trn rn rn rn rn Capital Sportrn There is no character in our team u2013 Amunikern rn rn Viewrn rn Friday, 28th Jun 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Capital Sportrn Ferreira still topu00a0at KCB Karen Mastersrn rn rn Viewrn rn Friday, 28th Jun 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Capital Sportrn Dagoretti, Upper Hill clash in Copa U16 finalrn rn rn Viewrn rn Friday, 28th Jun 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Captain Khazri salvages Cup of Nations draw for Tunisiarn rn rn Viewrn rn Friday, 28th Jun 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Leclerc on top in chaotic Austrian practicern rn rn Viewrn rn Friday, 28th Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn rn rn trn rn rn rn","articleerror":"

Oops...Something broke on our end

"},"messages":{"accessdenied":"Access to the account has been denied ","httperror":"Oops, something went wrong...please try again","contactgoogle":"Contacting Google","firsttime":"Seems this is your first time with this signin system. Please wait as we get your name","signinsuccess":"Cool. You're now signed in. This signin will close automatically now","pendingrequest":"Still communicating with the server","signedout":"Seems you were signed out. Try submitting again after you've been signed in","trackingerror":"Couldn't track Analytics","xhrnotconfigured":"To webmaster: Please confirm the xhr/ajax receptor is configured on the server","loadmore":"Load more stories"}}; /* ]]> */