CAPE TOWN — Zimbabwe and Morocco played to a goalless stalemate in the opening game of their Group B Caf African Nations Championship (CHAN) at Athlone Stadium yesterday.
— MTN Football
It was not the best of displays from either team as neither were able to fashion decent scoring opportunities.
Instead, it was a rather scrappy affair characterised by some wasteful passing in the final third of the field.
Neither team looked promising in attack as they squandered possession rather cheaply.
Chances on goal were a rare thing as most of the game was concentrated in the middle of the park.
In the eighth minute Issam Erraki fired a 25-yard set-piece into the defensive wall, but was quickest to react and pounce on the rebound, but again he was disappointed as the keeper produced a great save to deny him.
The next chance on goal only came in the 40th minute as Zimbabwe’s Donald Ngoma got on the end of a corner-kick, but his header from six-yards went narrowly wide. The start of the second 45 was also a cagey affair as both teams sat back in defence.
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Morocco, though, should have scored ten minutes after the restart as Zakaria El Hachimi curled an effort inches wide from just inside the box.
In the 64th minute Zimbabwe struck the post as Simbarashe Sithole let loose from just outside the box, the rebound then fell to Ali Sadiki who saw his attempt superbly saved by Nadir Lamyaghri.
Ten minutes later, Sadiki tried his luck on goal again from a tight angle way out, but his effort went wide of the goal.
In the 79th minute Abdessamad Rafik beat a couple of defenders before firing on goal, but his attempt was easily saved by George Chigova.
Neither team could go on to find the winner as the match ended all-square and the points were shared in the opening Group B game.
Meanwhile, the Confederation of African Football has revealed that the winners of the 2014 CHAN will bag in the range of $750 000 to $800 000.
Almamy Kabele Camara, Caf second vice-president, disclosed during a media briefing at the Cape Town ICC yesterday morning that all teams will get some cash, but added that all this depends on how the revenue came in.
“We have already set cash and all participating teams will get something, but all this depends on the revenue to be collected from the tournament that started on January 11 and climaxes on February 1.”
At the 2011 edition held in Khartoum, Sudan, all teams received cash including those that fell out in the group stages pocketed $100 000.
He said during the first edition of the CHAN tournament held in Ivory Coast, there was no revenue made, while the 2011 edition in Sudan fetched some revenue which was also distributed to teams.
“I was happy with the opening ceremony yesterday (Saturday) and the numbers of South Africans who graced the two matches, but we call upon football-loving people to grace this tournament which showcases the talents we have in Africa,” he said.
Starting line-ups Zimbabwe: George Chigova, Eric Chipeta, Hardlife Zvirekwi, Patson Jaure, Milton Ncube, Danny Phiri, Kudakwashe Mahachi, Donald Ngoma, Ali Sadiki, Pasca Manhanga, Simbarashe Sithole. Morocco: Nadir Lamyaghric, Aderrahim Achchkir, Zakaria El Hachimi, Mohamed Abarhoun, Mohsine Moutaquali, Anas Al Asbahi, Issam Eraki, Walid El Karti, Mohamed Oulhaj, Iajour Mouhssine, Brahim El Bahri.
