10-man Squirrels shock Atlas Lions, Benin beat Morocco 4-1 (pen)

Harry Awurumibe

The unpredictability of the game of football came to the fore this evening as the 10-man lowly rated Benin Republic’s Squirrels beat the star-studded Morocco’s Atlas Lions 4-1 on penalties after the regulation time finished 1-1 in Cairo.

Morocco was given the match by bookmakers even before the kick off following the inability of Benin Republic to win a single match at full-time in the on-going Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt. They also qualified for the Round of 16 as one of the best losers after they came third in Group F behind Ghana and Cameroon.

Perhaps, it is the above story of the Benin that deceived Morocco’s Head Coach, Harve Renard’s team that parades top quality players like Ajax Amsterdam attacking midfielder, Hakim Ziyach and co. And it was Benin that shot into the lead in the 54^th minute through Adilehou before Morocco equalized in the 76^th minute through Lagones player En-Nesyri.

But Morocco would have wrapped things up in the added time when Benin captain, Stephan Sessegnon brought down a Moroccan attacker in the box and a penalty was awarded to the Atlas Lions to win the encounter. That was not to be as Ziyach hit the upright and the match was taken to the extra time and penalty shootout. Benin finished the match with 10 players after a red card was given to one of her players.

Surprisingly it was Benin Republic players who held their nerves to score four of their kicks while Morocco can only score one of their kicks with Ziyach again failing to score from the spot.

Thus Morocco that did not concede any goal in the group stage and winning three on the bounce was eliminated by Benin Republic on the night.