Shock, agony and celebration as Benin sack Morocco

Tears of joy and disappointment flowed freely Friday the 2019 Nations cup got into the knockout stage with Morocco hitting the exit door

Atlas Lions of Morocco who had made a clean sweep of the group stage accumulating nine points in three matches and topping their group were hot favorites so win against Benin who had failed in the group stage to win a match. The tie had been forced to go into extra time after Morocco’s ziyech failed to convert stoppage time penalty that would sealed qualification for Morocco.

Highly determined Squirrels held on tenaciously in the 30 minutes of extra time as the Lions fired from all angles with intent to remedy the situation and re-write the wrongs.  The Penalty shootout turned out to be dramatic as the Squirrels converted four of their penalties while Cameroon converted just one out of the four penalties taken.

Although Morocco maintained 59% possession to Benin’s 41%, it was the squirrels that advanced with a crucial win that came when it mattered most. Morocco’s exit puts paid to coach Hervé Renard’s desire to take yet another African country to Nations cup victory after previously achieving the feat with Chipolopolo of Zambia and Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire respectively.