AFCON review: Ghana, Morocco make winning starts as Gabon edge debutantes Comoros

Sofiane Boufal scored on 83 minutes to earn Morocco a 1-0 win over Ghana in Yaounde on Monday after the first clash of titans in the Africa Cup of Nations.
The 28-year-old former Southampton midfielder, now with French top-flight club Angers, turned in the goalmouth and fired a loose ball past goalkeeper Joseph Wollacott.
It was the first meeting of two top 10 nations in a championship that began on Sunday after twice being postponed last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Morocco are ranked second and Ghana eighth in Africa and both former champions are considered potential winners of the 24-team tournament.
It is 46 years since Morocco won the Cup of Nations for the only time and the latest campaign began without their best known player, Chelsea midfielder Hakim Ziyech.
He was dumped from the national squad last year after coach Vahid Halilhodzic labelled the Netherlands-born star a “disruptive influence”.
Senegal 1 – 0 Zimbabwe
Liverpool star Sadio Mane converted a penalty deep in added time to snatch a fortunate 1-0 win for Senegal over Zimbabwe in the Africa Cup of Nations Group B opener on Monday in Bafoussam.
Disaster struck the gallant underdogs when a shot hit the right arm of Kelvin Madzongwe and Mane sent goalkeeper Petros Mhari the wrong way with the resulting penalty on 97 minutes to settle a lacklustre affair.
While Senegal, one of the favourites to win a competition delayed twice by Covid-19, dominated possession, they rarely threatened to break down a well-organised Zimbabwe defence.
Group B continues later on Monday when Guinea will be slight favourites to overcome Malawi and join Senegal at the top of the table.
Senegal lacked Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy and Napoli centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly, who are recovering in Cameroon after testing positive for the coronavirus.
Zimbabwe travelled to central Africa without a couple of their top players, Marvelous Nakamba from Aston Villa and fellow midfielder Marshall Munetsi from French Ligue 1 outfit Reims, due to injuries.
With reigning African Footballer of the Year Mane and Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Idrissa Gueye in the starting line-up, Senegal were expected to secure maximum points without undue difficulty.
Comoros 0 – 1 Gabon
Aaron Boupendza stepped up in the absence of Covid-stricken Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to earn Gabon a 1-0 victory over Africa Cup of Nations debutants Comoros on Monday.
Arsenal star Aubameyang and midfielder Mario Lemina missed their team’s opening Group C fixture in Yaounde after testing positive for the coronavirus last week.
Qatar-based Boupendza struck the lone goal on 16 minutes, smashing the ball high past Comoros goalkeeper Ali Ahamada from a tight angle after being played in by Louis Ameka Autchanga.
Comoros forward Moussa Djoumoi nearly equalised in the second half with a fierce long-range shot that Gabon goalkeeper Jean-Noel Amonome shovelled wide.
The Indian Ocean islanders are one of two teams appearing at the continental tournament for the first time, along with Gambia.
Only three of 11 newcomers have reached the knockout rounds since the turn of the century, although Madagascar did make it to the quarter-finals at the first attempt in 2019.
Gabon are participating for the eighth time. They have twice advanced to the last eight, in 1996 and 2012.
Patrice Neveu’s side moved level on three points with Morocco, 1-0 winners over Ghana earlier in the day.

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