Gabon and Morocco played to a dull 0-0 draw in their Group A 2016 CAF African Nations Championship match at Stade Amahoro in Kigali on Saturday evening.
It was a cagey start, with both sides aiming to settle down in the contest, not to commit early mistakes and there were no clear-cut chances after 10 minutes of action.
The Atlas Lions dominated the tie after the 10th-minute mark as they pushed forward in search of an early lead, however, winger Abdelilah Hafidi saw his shot going wide in the 15th minute.
On the other hand, Stephane Bounguendza’s men were stable at the back but they lost the ball easily in the midfield, and Ness Younga attempted a shot from the edge of the box but it went wide.
Mohamed Fakhir’s men nearly caught the Panthers napping when Abdessamad El Mobaraky received a pass from a quick free-kick, but his shot went wide after the 35th minute.
The game lacked free flow and was dominated by fouls and long balls, but in the last five minutes of the half Morocco came close to bagging a lead when Abdeladim Khadrouf nearly beat Bitseki – his shot went across the mouth of the goal with nobody to finish it off.
With a few minutes to go, Ondo Biyoghe saw his spectacular bicycle kick going wide of goal and it was 0-0 at half time.
After five minutes into the second stanza, Morocco took the game to Gabon but the Panthers remained steady at the back, with Mobaraky taking a long range shot looking to put it in the top corner, but Bitseki showed great reflexes and collected.
After 80 minutes in the encounter, the game became an interesting affair but then goals wouldn’t come as both sides wasted their opportunities.
Bitseki came out to stop Morocco’s attack and a few moments later Boumpenza nearly bagged the three points for Gabon, but his header went wide off the far post.
In the injury time, Mario Mandrault beat his man and surged forward but his final shot let him down as the shot flew way too wide.
The draw means both sides have one point apiece and the hosts, Rwanda, lead the standings with three after beating Cote d’Ivoire 1-0.
Gabon And Morocco Draw Goalless In CHAN 2016 2nd Match
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