The biggest fixture of the opening round is without question Morocco taking on Ghana. Both favourites to go all the way, one of them will be gunning for the top spot and a favourably seeded opposition.
The pedigree of Ghana versus the recent uprising of a quality team who have a taste for trophies having won both the 2018 and 2020 editions of the African Nations Championship. Which nation will take all three in this eagerly anticipated encounter?
Africa Cup of Nations – Group C
Monday 10 January
Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium
18:00
To Win
Morocco 11/10 | Draw 7/4 | Ghana 26/10
Morocco
Morocco are on an absolute wild run of good form in all competitions unbeaten in 22 competitive appearances (21 wins & one draw) up until their FIFA Arab Cup final against Algeria drawing 2-2 and losing on penalties.
While Hakim Ziyech is left out of the squad in recent times, it just goes to show the values and culture coach Vahid Halihodzic chooses to incorporate in the team, and they are still able to produce the best even without arguably their best attacking player of all time.
The defence is where Morocco win the fixtures for me, with Wolverhampton Wanderers Roman Saiss alongside Paris Saint-Germain’s Achraf Hakimi and Watford’s Adam Masina, protected by another Watford player in Imran Louza in midfield they have a stonewall for a backline.
Ghana
Ghana are a quality team and will possibly always be but are in a rather transition period of their golden generation. Slowly filtering out the old and bringing in the new is what seems to be the current mission for the Black Stars.
Despite this transition period they are still able to qualify for major tournaments with the pedigree they have and the overall football structure they have established over the years. Scraping by in the world cup qualifiers and similarly in the AFCON qualifiers, the nation is not what it used to be, but make no mistake, the players are hungry for success and always bring a strong physical presence to the game.
Prediction: Morocco Win (26/10)
Morocco find themselves in a more fruitful period while Ghana are in the rebuilding phase. It will definitely be a tough game, but Morocco at 26/10 is through the roof value to edge this game and I will be backing them all the way in this group.
