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Morocco national football team
African Nations Championship | Group Stage
Jan 20, 2014 at 5pm UK
 
Uganda national football team

3-1

Rafik (29'), Iajour (78'), El Ouadi (90')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Sentamu (60')

Live Commentary: Morocco 3-1 Uganda - as it happened

Read Sports Mole to see how all the action from the African Nations Championship clash between Morocco and Uganda unfolded.
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Morocco and Uganda met in their African Nations Championship clash in their final group game of the competition.

Both sides were in need of a win to guarantee their place in the next round of the tournament, although a lot depended on the result of the other game in the group between Zimbabwe and Burkina Faso.

Morocco proved to be more clinical in front of goal as they took the chances on offer to secure a win to advance to the next round of the competition, while Uganda crashed out as Zimbabwe beat Burkina Faso to steal second place in the group.

Read how all the action unfolded in our commentary below.


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Good afternoon and welcome to the live commentary of the African Nations Championship clash between Morocco and Uganda.

This is a crucial match in the final round of fixtures in Group B of the competition, as Morocco and Uganda's places in the next round of the tournament are at stake.

Morocco are second in the group with two points, but it could have been better for them had Burkina Faso not scored a late equaliser in their match last week, which leaves them in a predicament this afternoon as a point may not be enough to secure their place in the next round. Only a win will guarantee their place.

Uganda are in a similar position after their draw with Zimbabwe, where a point may be enough to send them through to the next round, but a defeat and wins for Morocco and Zimbabwe would send them out. So there is still plenty of work for them to do.

MOROCCO STARTING XI: Lamyaghri, Oulhaj, Karrouchy, Aberhoune, El Hachimi, El Bahri, Abdessamad, Raki, Moutouali, Fettah, El Ouadi.

MOROCCO SUBS: Achchakir, Saidi, Chagou, Iajour, Hadraf, Askri, Al Asbahi, El Moubarki, El Karti, Krouch, El Yousfi, Sassa.

UGANDA STARTING XI: Ochan, Iguma, Kasagga, Kabugo, Ntambi, Muleme, Wasswa, Kayizi, Majwega, Ntege, Sentamu.

UGANDA SUBS: Kimera, Wadada, Mugerwa, Mpuga, Olaki, Kyeyune, Mpande, Okwil, Kisekka, Watenga, Kyambadde, Asiku.

The players are making their way onto the pitch and we should be underway shortly.

We're underway in this Group B clash.

Early pressure from Uganda as they put the ball into the Morocco penalty area but the ball is cleared behind for a corner by El Hachimi.

CHANCE! Majwega puts the ball in from the corner and it's cleared straight back to him, this time he fires a shot-cum-cross at goal into a crowd of players and Lamyaghri has to do well to fight for the ball and beat it away, and his defenders manager to hack the ball clear.

Morocco respond to the early pressure as they build down the left wing and El Ouadi cuts inside on his right foot but his effort gets deflected behind for a corner, and from the resulting ball into the box Uganda are able to clear their lines.

El Ouadi causes problems again down the left and he cuts inside again on his right foot, he tries to cross into the area and the ball takes a deflection towards goal but it goes wide of the post, as Ochan desperately tried to stop the ball to avoid the corner.

The game has slowed in the past few minutes as both sides are trying to build a tempo, Morocco have seen slightly more of the ball, but both teams are trying to build something in attack here.

Uganda move the ball well through midfield and catch Morocco a man light at the back, as the ball comes across to Kayizi on the right, he needs to produce the final ball to allow his strikers to have a chance in the penalty area, but he can't beat the first man and the attack is spurned.

Morocco win another corner this time down the right and Abdessamad whips the ball in with his left foot and his delivery is perfect for El Bahri six yards from goal, but the forward can't make the contact he needs as the ball brushes off his head and Uganda are able to clear.

SHOT! Uganda go on the counter at the opposite end as Majwega breaks forward down the left and he fires an effort at goal which is saved by Lamyaghri, and Kayizi on the follow-up is pressured and he loses possession.

A lot of possession football is being played at the moment with the distinct lack of a final product. Both sides have been building well through the midfield but as soon as they get into the final third of the pitch, the delivery has been poor.

Danger for Morocco as they concede a free kick about 25 yards from goal as Sentamu is brought down by Raki, a chance here for Uganda to test Lamyaghri.

Majwega strikes the ball and it goes over the wall but his effort is easily claimed low down as the ball dipped by Lamyaghri.

Morocco's turn to threaten from a free kick as El Ouadi is brought down 35 yards from goal after beating Ntambi down the left.

Abdessamad hits the free kick deep into the box but once again the delivery is poor and Ochan is able to come for the ball and claim it with ease. We need better quality in this game if were are to get a goal here.

GOAL! Morocco 1-0 Uganda (Abdessamad)

Morocco take the lead as they finally produce the quality they needed for the breakthrough and it's come through El Ouadi as he raided down the left and beat his man before he fired a cross low into the area and Abdessamad was there to turn the ball in from six yards out.

SAVE! Lamyaghri keeps the scores level as Uganda win a corner down the right and the initial headed clearance goes only as far as Wasah and he powers an effort at goal, and the keeper flings himself to the right and makes a brilliant one-handed stop and from the rebound Kabugo heads towards goal but Moutouali is on the line to clear.

A good response from Uganda after going behind as they have dominated possession and are encamped in the Morocco half, but they are yet to threaten after going close through Wasah.

Uganda seem to be growing frustrated that their dominance of possession over the last 10 minutes has not amounted to much as Ntambi decides to shoot from about 35 yards down the right side and his effort sails well over the bar.

CHANCE! Morocco nearly make Uganda pay for their lack of clinical edge in front of goal as El Ouadi finds space down the left and his cross travels all the way to the back post, where he finds El Bahri but his left-footed volley is straight at Ochan, who makes a comfortable save. He had more time than he thought the striker there.

CHANCE! Ntambi hits a long deep ball for Sentamu, who gets in behind Aberhoune and is through on goal, but his touch is poor and Lamyaghri comes put to smother the ball as the striker hits the deck looking for a penalty again the centre back, who was near him, but the officials wave play on. You're not going to get those decisions.

There will be two minutes of added time.

HALF TIME: Morocco 1-0 Uganda

Morocco lead at the break thanks to Abdessamad's strike in the 29th minute, they took the chance that was on offer and that has been the difference between the two sides at half time. If they hold out Morocco will be going into the next round of the competition, so their boss Hassan Benabicha will be wanting more of the same.

Uganda will be concerned by their display in the first half, they had plenty of possession and weren't able to do a great deal with it, with the closest effort coming from Wassaw as he was denied by a brilliant save from Lamyaghri but that was the only chance they created in the first 45 minutes. They'll need to do a lot better in the second to avoid defeat here.

The players are making their way back into the pitch and we should be underway shortly.

We're back underway in this Group B clash.

CHANCE! Uganda work the ball well to start the second half as they build through the middle and Sentamu holds the ball and knocks it back to Muleme on the edge of the area, who strikes the ball at goal, but his effort is well held by Lamyaghri.

El Bahri wins the ball down the right and he raids down the flank into all sorts of space, he has Abdessamad in support down the middle and just needs to thread the ball through to him, to create an opening but his cross is intercepted by Kasagga, who then clears.

CHANCE! Uganda work the ball well again, they move to the right and Wadada whips the ball into the box where Sentamu is at the front post but he can't direct his header on target as his effort goes over the bar. Good work by Uganda until the finish.

UPDATE! In the other Group B clash Zimbabwe have taken the lead against Burkina Faso. So if the results stay the same, Uganda will be out of the competition.

GOAL! Morocco 1-1 Uganda (Sentamu)

Uganda are level and get that important goal that may keep them in the competition, as they raid down the middle and Sentamu finds Iguma inside the area, he goes for the return as the midfielder chips the ball over the top of the Morocco defence and the striker makes no mistake firing past Lamyaghri from close range. Game on!

The pace of the game has dropped rapidly since the goal, Morocco look shell shocked and they need to get their act together if they want to stay in the tournament, as it stands they are going out.

SUBSTITUTIONS: Iajour comes on for El Bahri for Morocco, while Wasswa is withdrawn for Uganda and replace with Olaki.

YELLOW CARD! Oulhaj goes into the book for bringing down Sentamu, as the striker looked to break down the right. That gives Uganda a chance to put Morocco under more pressure from a free kick in a dangerous position.

The free kick comes to nothing as Uganda play the ball short between Kiyaki and Wadada, for some reason they try to run to the corner before knocking the ball into the area, to threaten the Moroccan defence, and they allow them to clear for now.

CHANCE! The substitute Olaki should give his side the lead as Uganda work the ball down the left and Majwega hits a cross into the area and the midfielder gets in front of his man, but chests the ball at goal rather than heading it and it's an easy save for Lamyaghri to make.

CHANCE! Uganda come again and the ball pinballs around the Moroccan penalty area before Muleme heads the ball at goal but once again Lamyaghri is there to bail his side out. Morocco are a shambles at the back at the moment, they need to sort themselves otherwise they're going home.

Morocco try to get back in front now as their hopes of staying in the competition rest on another goal and they win a corner down the left, which is taken by El Ouadi and his cross is cleared but only as far as Raki 25 yards from goal and he shoots but his effort goes well over the bar.

CHANCE! El Ouadi should put his side in the lead again, a long ball is pumped forward from the back and Iajour wins it on the edge of the area, under pressure from Kabugo he knocks it into the path of the on-rushing winger, who shoots side-footed first time but his effort is straight at Ochan.

GOAL! Morocco 2-1 Uganda (Iajour)

Morocco take the lead again and it's a neat finish from the striker Iajour as the ball was knocked into the area and not properly cleared by Uganda, and El Moubarki knocked the ball into his feet at the edge of the area, and he was able to turn and find the corner of the net with a low finish. Morocco's hopes are alive again and now Uganda are going out.

Uganda go on the attack again and there's a scramble in the area, as Morocco desperately try to clear the ball and they manage it just, and they live to fight another day.

CHANCE! Iajour has the chance to end the game as he finds space down the left, he turns on some speed and races into the box. From a tight angle he tries to beat Ochan but the keeper makes a brilliant save and gathers the rebound before the striker can pounce. That should have been the game there.

Uganda press again and they find themselves in the final third, Olaki is fed the ball just outside the area, he turns his man and decides to go for goal, but it's the wrong decision as his effort goes harmlessly wide.

Sentamu is brought down on the edge of the area by Aberhoune and the referee awards a free kick around 20 yards from goal, this is a chance for Uganda.

CHANCE! Kabuga takes the free kick and his effort is good enough to beat the wall, but it has just too much height and goes inches over the bar, and Lamyaghri had the shot covered anyway.

CHANCE! Morocco have another chance to end the game as they break in two-one situation but Iajour chooses to go on his own and he gets crowded out as he takes time over the shot, as men get back for Uganda and eventually he tries to find El Ouadi but Ochan is able to gather his cross.

There will be two minutes of added time.

CHANCE! Uganda come forward and Olaki finds space in the box, he tries to pull the trigger and loses his footing at the worst possible time as Sentamu was also in space down the right, if he had tried to find him it could have been a goal. That was the chance for Uganda.

GOAL! Morocco 3-1 Uganda (El Ouadi)

Morocco seal their place in the next round of the competition as the ball is cleared upfield and El Ouadi wins a challenge with Kasagga and the ball rebounds forward in front of the winger and he speeds into it, goes round Ochan and slots the ball in the back of the net. An excellent finish and Uganda will crash out of the tournament.

FULL TIME: Morocco 3-1 Uganda

It's all over and Morocco advance at the expense of Uganda after their victory this evening. They were more clinical in front of goal when it mattered the most and deserve their place in the next round of the competition, as Zimbabwe's victory over Burkina Faso sends Uganda home.

It's harsh on Uganda who played some good football in this game and throughout the competition, but they didn't take their chances when they needed to and that's the reason they are going home today.

Thanks for joining our commentary this evening. We'll be back with more action from the African Nations Championship tomorrow, until then goodbye.

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