Rabat – Morocco football teams has defeated Mali in a stunning 6-0 victory on Friday night in Rabat’s Moulay Abdellah Stadium in the third round of Africa’s Group C World Cup 2018 qualifiers.
Throughout the 90 minutes the Moroccan squand was the dominent side with more ball possession and efficiency in scoring goals.
Ajax Amsterdam’s midfielder, Hakim Ziyech, who made his comeback after months of absence due to tension with the French coach Hervé Renard, gave an outstanding performance scoring two goals and providing two key assissts to Yeni Malatyaspor’ striker Khalid Boutaib 18 years old Achraf Hakim, Real Madrid’s rising defender.
Ziyech scored first in minute 19 thanks to a penalty kick. Eight minutes later, a combination between Ziyech and Feynord’s Karim El Ahmadi provided Boutaib with a golden opportunity to score the second goal.
In minute 61 the due Ziyech teamed with Watford’s Nordin Amrabat to score the third goal when the former beautifuly gave the latter a back heel pass. Ziyech used his dribbling skills to pass through a Malian defendent before netting the third goal in the opposite corner of where the goal keeper was standing.
Hakimi, making his debut with the Moroccan A team, stunned the Malian defense with a fourth goal where he received an assisst from Ziyech.
Subsititues Fyçal Fajr, Getafe’s midfielder, and Mimoun Mahi’s FC Groningen striker, sealed the fate of the Malian team both in minutes 85 and 86. Fajr sent a beautiful shot in the left corner of the Malian goalkeeper while Mahi received a golden assist from Al Jazeera’s Mbarek Boussoufa to score an important goal in his debut withe the Moroccan squad.
The Atlas Lions are due to head to Mali on Saturday ahead of their second game against the local team. Another victory will be crucial to preserve the chances of qualifying to the World Cup in Russia next summer knowing that Morocco has now five points from two draws against Ivory Coast and Gabon, and Friday’s incredible win against Mali.
